Record-breaking heatwave scorches Northeast India, disrupts daily life
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The ongoing heatwave sweeping through the Northeast has led to record-breaking temperatures in multiple cities.
Itanagar and Dibrugarh witnessed their hottest June days on record.
On Thursday, Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, saw temperatures soar to 39.7°C, breaking its previous high of 39.5°C recorded on June 26, 2015.
Dibrugarh also set a new June record with 38.7°C, surpassing the earlier mark of 38.2°C set the same day in 2015.
Pasighat, another town in Arunachal Pradesh, matched its previous highest June temperature of 38.6°C, last seen on June 21, 1996.
The soaring temperatures have created immense discomfort across the region. Cities such as Jorhat, Mazbat, and North Lakhimpur in Assam also touched highs of 38.2°C. Pasighat reported the most dramatic deviation from normal, registering 7.6 degrees above the average. Dibrugarh followed closely with 7.2 degrees above normal, while North Lakhimpur, Tezpur, and Jorhat recorded 6.4, 6, and 5.6 degrees above the seasonal average, respectively.
In response to the extreme heat, local authorities have issued advisories to help residents cope with the rising temperatures. Schools in several areas have adjusted their operating hours after students reportedly collapsed in a Dibrugarh school due to the heat.
The Labour Welfare Department in Assam has also revised the working hours for tea garden workers. Previously set from 8 am to 4 pm, the new schedule mandates starting work two hours earlier and finishing by 2 pm to avoid peak heat exposure.
According to meteorological officials, monsoon relief may be on the horizon, with a second spell of rains expected within the next two to three days.