THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, April 25 (INS): Kerala is currently grappling with an unprecedented
meteorological phenomenon as the State experiences its most severe heatwave
in recent history.
Severe heat has claimed three lives and sent a dozen others, including children,
to hospital with serious burns. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has
issued a heatwave warning in Kollam, Thrissur and Palakkad districts, where
the temperature is hovering around 40 deg C. On Saturday and Sunday temperatures
across Kerala will rise by 3-4 deg C, the IMD said.
Two deaths were reported from Kollam and Palakkad and seven people suffered
from sunburns across the State on Saturday. One of the deaths occurred in a
farm in Kunnikkode in Kollam. The victim, Baby Phillip (85), was found lying
in the sun. In Pattambi in Palakkad, the other elderly person, Bashir, was found
dead on the road at 2 pm.
The day's sunburn cases were reported from Thamarasserry and Pannikkodil in
Kozhikkode, Thanur in Malappuram, Muttam and Perumattom in Idukki and Kilimanoor
and Kunnammal in Kottayam.
Earlier, a 37-year-old man, a Dubai-returnee of Kannur district, collapsed
around 11 am on Wednesday while engaged in outdoor work and died the next day
in hospital due to suspected heatstroke.
Early this week, in Malappuram district, three children suffered sunburn while
playing in a ground. They were treated for burns on back and the hands. A migrant
worker from Odisha, Pandava Bairai (27), employed at a timber mill in Koothattukulam
in Ernakulam district, suffered burns and is under treatment. In another case,
in Kozhikode, an anganwadi teacher suffered burns on her arms.
The physics of the "blistering" sun
While absolute temperatures in districts like Palakkad and Kollam have breached
the 41 deg C mark, the true danger lies in a lethal convergence of high humidity
and extreme Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, creating a "North Indian-style" heat
stress in a tropical environment.
The reports of skin blisters and "burn-like" injuries across the State are
not mere exaggerations. Scientific data from the Kerala State Disaster Management
Authority (KSDMA) indicates that the UV Index (UVI) has hit levels of 8 to 9—classified
as "Very High."
There are also reports of "alarming" UV radiation levels (hitting 8 or 9 on
the index). This is likely what is causing the blisters and burns being reported;
the sun is literally scorching the skin of people who aren't used to needing
protection.
At this intensity, DNA-damaging radiation penetrates the skin in as little
as 15 to 20 minutes of exposure. The current atmosphere is unusually clear of
pre-monsoon cloud cover, allowing direct, "raw" solar radiation to scorch the
skin. This has resulted in a surge of hospitalizations for heat-induced dermatitis
and second-degree solar burns, particularly among children and outdoor workers.
The lethal "Wet-Bulb" threshold
The primary reason this heat feels "heavier" and more dangerous than a North
Indian summer is the Wet-Bulb temperature. In northern India, the heat is "dry"
(low humidity), which allows the human body to cool itself through the evaporation
of sweat.
In Kerala, the relative humidity is hovering between 60% and 80%. When high
heat meets high humidity, the air becomes "saturated." Sweat cannot evaporate.
This causes the Heat Index—the "feels like" temperature—to skyrocket to an estimated
48°C to 50°C.
Even if the thermometer says 40 deg C (as it did in Palakkad and Kollam this
week), the "heat index"—what it actually feels like to a human—is often hitting
45°C to 48°C because of the moisture.
When the body cannot vent heat through evaporation, internal core temperatures
rise rapidly, leading to the fatal heatstrokes reported this week, including
the tragic death of a 37-year-old in Kannur.
Atmospheric drivers
Meteorologists point to three specific scientific drivers behind this 2026
crisis:
Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) Lag: The delay in the MJO—a global pulse
of clouds and rainfall—has suppressed the usual April "Summer Showers" (Venal
Mazha), leaving the ground dry and baked.
Anti-Cyclonic Circulation: A high-pressure system over the Arabian Sea
is "compressing" the air over Kerala, a process called subsidence, which traps
heat at the surface.
The Urban Heat Island Effect: In coastal and semi-urban Kerala, the
high density of concrete and tar roads is absorbing heat all day and radiating
it back at night, preventing the body from recovering even after sunset.
Medical advisory: The IMD has issued Orange Alerts for several districts.
Scientists warn that "head covering" is no longer optional. Because of the humidity,
thirst is a poor indicator of hydration; the body is losing electrolytes through
"inefficient" sweating. Continuous rehydration and a total moratorium on outdoor
activity between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm are now essential for survival until the
monsoon arrives.
Precautions: Avoid direct sunlight; Drink plenty of water; Wear cotton
clothes; Try to stay indoor from 11 am till 3 pm.
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