Prolonged dry spell with no immediate signs of rain is causing misery for people in Tarai districts, which have witnessed temperatures soaring to 35-42 degrees Celsius.

Warm and dry weather condition is expected to continue for the next couple of days as no rainfall activity is in sight, say weathermen.

According to reports from Bharatpur in Chitwan district, temperatures are hovering above 40 degrees Celsius for the last few days, resulting in a sharp rise in number of people at local health facilities with complaints of heat-related diseases.

Headache, cough, diarrhoea and fever are the major complaints of the majority of visitors, said Prakash Khatiwada, a medical officer at Bharatpur District Hospital in Chitwan. “Excessive heat is likely to increase the chances dengue and malaria spread,” he added.  

In Kapilvastu, locals are spending most of the time indoors. Since Sunday, temperatures in Kapilvastu have remained between 40 and 42   of patients visiting Gajendra Narayan Singh Sagarmatha Zonal Hospital and Koshi Zonal Hospital have also increased in recent days. The outpatient department of Koshi Zonal Hospital these days is mostly visited by people complaining of heat-related illnesses.

Exposure to excessive heat usually results in headache, nausea, weakness, dizziness and fainting. Heat-related illnesses include heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat syncope (fainting). Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat-related illness and requires immediate medical attention.

“Number of children and elderly people visiting the hospital has sharply gone up,” said Roshan Pokhrel, medical superintendent of Koshi Zonal Hospital.

The elderly, infants and young children, the obese, outdoor workers, and those with chronic medical conditions are at increased risk during excessive heat condition.

On Wednesday, Nepalgunj recorded the highest day temperature of 42 degrees Celsius, followed by Bhairahawa (41.6 degrees Celsius), Dhangadi (41.1 degrees Celsius), Dang (38.9 degrees Celsius), Janakpur (38.6 degrees Celsius), Birendranagar (38.2 degrees Celsius) and Simara (38 degrees Celsius), according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division. The maximum temperature for Kathmandu was 33.2 degrees Celsius. No deaths have been reported due to heat wave so far. However, in neighbouring India, more than 150 deaths over the past two weeks have been blamed on the  heat.

(With inputs from our local correspondents)