Even as the Regional Office of the IMD here on Sunday issued heat wave warning to 10 districts on Sunday, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena Sunday asked the district Collectors to take precautionary measures for tackling the heat wave conditions prevailing in their districts

Jena asked them to emphasise on immediate repair of tubewells and piped water supply projects, supply through tankers in habitations facing drinking water scarcity, opening of ‘Paniya Jala Kendras’ at strategic locations.

Besides he also stressed on special arrangements in hospitals, dispensaries, PHCs, CHCs for treatment of heat stroke patients, taking care of animal resources and restricting the work hours of labourers. The Collectors were directed to send regular updates to the SRC about the situation and preparedness of the administration to mitigate the heat wave situation in their respective districts.

Earlier, the IMD warned that heat wave conditions are very likely to prevail over some parts of the districts of Balangir, Kalahandi, Angul, Boudh, Subarnapur, Nuapada, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Malkangiri and Sambalpur.

The heat is tolerable for general public but has moderate health concern for infants and elderly persons with chronic diseases; it said and advised such people to stay indoors.

No major change in maximum day temperature is likely during next four to five days over the districts and it would be 40 degree Celsius or more in many places over the districts of interior Odisha, the IMD forecasted.