Dr Suman Podda told The Indian Express, “Children should engage in fewer outdoor activities during the daytime. Especially, children aged 2-5 should avoid attending school if possible on heatwave days. Avoid consuming cold water when outdoors in the sun.”
In terms of diet, he suggested that children increase their intake of liquids while avoiding artificially flavoured drinking water and fast food. Poddar said entering air-conditioned rooms or drinking chilled water immediately after being outside during the daytime could pose health risks for both adults and children.
Another paediatrician, Dr Pavitra Chakraborty, said, “Most of my patients come with either digestion problems or fever. Even in this weather, children drink less water and consume fast food.”
He added, “If a child is not drinking sufficient water, then parents should hydrate them with fruits that contain more water, such as cucumber, watermelon, or sweet lime, or add lemon, salt, and a little bit of sugar to the water for flavour. Meat as a source of protein can be avoided, and plant-based protein may reduce digestion problems. Including curd in the diet can help maintain body temperature balance.”
On Monday, Kolkata recorded a maximum temperature of 40.3 degrees Celsius, with humidity peaking at 91 per cent under a partly cloudy sky. An orange alert continues in districts of southern Bengal, including North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore, Purulia, Hooghly, Jhargram, West Midnapore, West Burdwan, East Burdwan, Birbhum, Murshidabad, and Nadia. The alert is expected to persist until this week.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials have stated that the temperature over Gangetic West Bengal will decrease by 1-2 degrees Celsius in the next two days, followed by an increase of 1-2 degrees Celsius in the subsequent two days.
On Monday, Panagarh and Bankura recorded 44.5 degrees Celsius. Barrackpore, Asansol, and Purulia reached 43 degrees Celsius, while Midnapore hit 42.5 degrees Celsius. Additionally, Krishnanagar recorded 41.5 degrees Celsius, Burdwan at 42 degrees Celsius, and Jhargram at 41.5 degrees Celsius.
Thunderstorms with lightning are currently affecting Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar, which may continue into next week. However, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and Malda are experiencing hot and humid conditions with no rainfall.
On Monday, Darjeeling had a maximum temperature of 22.4 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 14 degrees Celsius, while Kalimpong recorded a maximum of 25 degrees Celsius. Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar all had a maximum temperature of 34 degrees Celsius, and Malda was the hottest with a temperature of 41.1 degrees Celsius. The Met department has announced that the day temperature will gradually rise by 1-2 degrees during the next three days.