IMD Warns of Prolonged Heatwave in Eight Districts Till May 16
Ranchi, May 11 – Scorching heatwave-like conditions have gripped Jharkhand's Santhal Pargana region, with Pakur district recording a searing 40.5 degrees Celsius on Saturday, making it the hottest place in the state, officials said.While northeastern districts baked under extreme heat, parts of southern and central Jharkhand, including Ranchi, witnessed a brief respite with rainfall and thunderstorms over the past 24 hours. Ranchi's Mandar area recorded 12.8 mm of rainfall, while Bokaro Thermal received 10.4 mm, according to the Ranchi Meteorological Centre.
Weather Outlook: Heat in North-East, Rain in South-Central Regions
Deputy Director of Ranchi Meteorological Centre, Abhishek Anand, stated that hot and humid conditions will persist in the northeast districts, particularly in Santhal Pargana, on Sunday. Meanwhile, southern and central districts are expected to experience thunderstorms, rainfall, and gusty winds.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heatwave warning for eight districts — Deoghar, Jamtara, Pakur, Godda, Sahibganj, Dumka, Dhanbad, and Giridih — until May 16. Apart from Pakur, Jamshedpur recorded 40.3°C, and Daltonganj touched 40.1°C on Saturday.
Tube Well Crisis: Over 74,000 Units Non-Functional
Amid the intensifying heat, a concerning water crisis has emerged, with approximately 74,500 tube wells reported to be defunct across Jharkhand.Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore revealed that the state government has allocated ₹259 crore for repairing these tube wells. "The Drinking Water and Sanitation Department informed that around 74,500 tube wells were out of order till April 1," he said in a statement.
He added that deputy commissioners across all districts have been directed to expedite the repair work using the allotted funds to prevent further water scarcity during the peak summer season.
