Guwahati: A sweltering summer has gripped the northeast, with temperatures rising well above normal and making conditions uncomfortable for people to go outdoors across most parts of the region.Most parts of Assam recorded maximum temperatures above 35°C on Saturday, while several locations in the northeast registered temperatures 4–5°C higher than the seasonal average.Silchar in southern Assam was the hottest location, recording a maximum temperature of 38.6°C on Saturday. However, the largest departure from normal was recorded at Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh, where the mercury soared 6.7°C above normal.Doctors warned that the prevailing conditions could trigger heat exhaustion and heat stroke, besides dehydration, particularly among children and the elderly. “Skin diseases like sunburn, excessive sweating related dermatoses, and seasonal infections like viral diseases related respiratory and encephalitis are possible during summer. People should be cautious about rain and water logging causing water borne diseases like diarrhoea, enteric fever and hepatitis,” Dr Devajit Choudhury, medical superintendent at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, told TOI.While the plains of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura experienced intense heat, the hill states of Nagaland and Meghalaya experienced comparatively milder conditions, with maximum temperatures largely staying below 30°C. Even so, several places reported significant departures from normal.Guwahati residents struggled with the oppressive heat. Saranga Pani Mazumdar, a student, said the city felt hotter than the recorded temperature, with the heat index crossing 40°C. “Fortunately it’s summer vacation going on in our college but I came to a book shop in Pan Bazar. However, for the next few days if rain does not hit the city, I won’t come out of home,” he said.On Saturday, Silchar recorded a 5.9°C departure from normal. Guwahati logged a deviation of 4.6°C, Dibrugarh 4.8°C, Tezpur 4.4°C and Dhubri 4.4°C. Shillong, despite remaining relatively cool with a maximum temperature of 28°C, recorded a 4.5°C departure above normal. Kohima was the coolest state capital in the region at 26°C, with a marginal departure of just 0.5°C.The Regional Meteorological Centre of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast moderate rainfall at many places over Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura on Sunday. Light to moderate rain is likely at a few places across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Manipur. However, the Met office also warned that maximum temperatures across the northeast are likely to rise by another 2°C to 4°C in the coming days.
