As the cyclone threat ends, heatwave is back

Just as citizens and residents in Oman were hoping for some rains due to Cyclone Biparjoy this week, Oman Meteorology has sent a warning on the impending heat wave.

In a statement, the Met department said there will be a noticeable rise in temperatures in the coastal areas adjoining the Sea of Oman and mountainous areas, ranging from mid to late 40 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, especially at noon.

While warning of high temperatures (mid to late 40 degrees Celsius) over the desert and open areas during the next three days, the met also ordered to avoid going to the sea as there is a possibility of high sea waves on the coasts of the Sultanate of Oman and rising water levels in the low coastal areas between June 12 and 14.

Rough waves in the range of 3-5m are expected along the coasts of the Arabian Sea and around 2-4m along the coasts of the Sea of Oman.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour has warned all establishments and cautioned them against employing people for outdoor work between 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm.

Biparjoy, is expected to make landfall on Thursday afternoon between Mandvi in India's western state of Gujarat and Karachi in Pakistan with a maximum sustained wind speed of 125-135 km per hour, gusting up to 150 km per hour.

Pakistani authorities on Monday deployed troops to evacuate around 100,000 people from coastal belts.

The weather office has advised fishing communities to halt operations and the evacuation of people from the coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch regions of Gujarat.

Two of India's biggest ports - Mundra and Kandla - are in the Gulf of Kutch, while the Jamnagar refinery, the world's biggest oil refinery complex owned by Reliance Industries, is based in Saurashtra.

Seven teams of India's National Disaster Response Force and 12 teams of State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in the districts likely to be affected by the storm.

Biparjoy delayed the onset of the annual monsoon over the southern state of Kerala, but now conditions are favourable for the progress of much-needed rains in some more parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states, the weather office said. With agency inputs