Palakkad: A severe heat wave has already hit Kerala without it being peak summer time yet.
Temperatures in northern districts of the state have touched an unprecedented high and have touched 43 degrees Celsius in some places.
The rivers and water bodies are drying up and the heat wave has hit both men and animals hard.
"We found this buffalo stuck in this water body. It seems it entered the water to avoid the heat," says a villager Sunil.
If the heat wave continues the state will soon face a serious water and power crisis.
In Palakkad, which is the worst hit, the Army has been called out to help in providing relief.
Some of the worst affected people are the farmers. With half a dozen people already down with sunstroke health authorities are drawing up contingency plans to fight the heat.
"To begin with we have advised all workers under NREGA who work in the open to change timings so that they are not affected by the sun," says Palakkad District Collector KV Mohan Kumar.
There is unlikely to be any respite from the heat soon. Met officials say summer showers are unlikely any time soon and for now it seems Kerala is in for a real long haul summer this year.
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