Andhra Pradesh: Post-cyclone temperatures may hit migrants hard

Nellore: Even if the fury of cyclone Amphan fades away leaving some impact on coastal villages in Odisha and West Bengal, the post-cyclone situation could be disastrous, warn weather experts. Low humidity levels in coastal areas could affect people who spend longer time in sun, especially migrants. Sometimes leading to deaths due to sunstroke.

Many migrant labourers and others are on foot or pedalling bicycles disregarding the current moderate temperatures. They have been continuing their travel without major health problems due to sun. The reason is simple that the temperatures in the coastal region are hovering around 38-39 degrees Celsius.

However, the situation would be different irrespective of the cyclone makes a landfall or dissipates. Temperatures are bound to increase abnormally coupled with low humidity levels during the pre-monsoon period leading to unpredictable situations. It is a natural phenomenon that the highest temperatures record just before the onset of the southwest monsoon in the month of May.

Northern and central parts of India experience heatwaves during this season and the strong northwesterly winds create heat-wave conditions over Andhra Pradesh. The situation continues until the onset of the monsoon. There would be chances of high temperatures in the coastal regions after cyclone which would highly impact the migrants on the move in the coming couple of days. "Movement of migrants on highways should immediately be controlled from the evening of May 18 due to the approaching calamitous cyclone Amphan protecting them from gale winds and lightning instances," said Prof SSVS Ramakrishna from the Department of Meteorology and Oceanography, Andhra University.

 "This a natural phenomenon before the onset of monsoon and one has to be careful during scorching heat conditions. Migrants moving through Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam should be keenly monitored following suggestions of the Met department," advised Prof Ramakrishna. Majority of people are taking shelter under trees and open places to protect from sun. Met department alerted many districts in the State that severe thunderstorms would hit the areas. Incidentally, many migrants are moving in large numbers in these areas who could face potential danger.