Normal life has been greatly affected due to heat wave in western Tarai districts including Banke, Kailali and Kanchanpur for the past few days. Temperatures have gradually surged, while relative humidity has plummeted in the area. 

The scorching heat spell has mostly affected daily wage workers, with the long powercuts depriving people from using electric appliances to keep them cool. The weathermen have forecast that the heat wave will continue till June.

On Wednesday, Nepalgunj recorded the maximum temperature of 42.2 degrees Celsius, with Attariya of Kailali clocking 40.4 degrees Celcius.

“Wednesday’s is the highest recorded temperature in Nepalgunj yet this year. It will keep on rising until June,” said Rita Mahato, chief of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology at Nepalgunj office. 

The temperature this April is the highest in three years. The city witnessed 34.8 degrees Celcius in April 2015 and 37.3 the year before. The weathermen said the temperature is surging considerably this year due to long drought in the region.  

Water taps and wells have dried up in Kohalpur and Kasum area. The western Tarai is vulnerable to hot and dry summer wind condition, locally known as Loo, due to the influence of the scorching temperatures in Rajasthan and north-west regions of India.