PATNA, May 25 -- The state continued to reel under intense heatwave conditions on Sunday with the temperature of Dawath block of Rohtas district hovering around 46.5degC in the last 24 hours. Dehri in Rohtas also sizzled at 45.1degC, while Bhabua and other areas reported temperatures well above 43degC, indicating a hottest month for the south-western region of the state in the past one decade, said a senior officer of the local meteorological office. Minimum temperatures provided only marginal relief, dropping to 21.3degC in Narpatganj block of Araria district and Jalalgarh block of Purnea district. Isolated pockets, particularly in northern and northeastern Bihar, received some respite in the form of very light to moderate rainfall. Kochadhamin block in Kishanganj district recorded the highest rainfall of 31.8 mm, while scattered showers also occurred in parts of Araria, Purnea, Katihar, Sitamarhi and Supaul. The India meteorological department's local unit has warned that high temperatures and humid conditions will persist over the next couple of days in most districts, including West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Kaimur, Rohtas, Buxar, Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Munger and Jamui. However, a gradual change is expected after a couple of days. "There could be a marginal drop of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in maximum temperatures between 26 and 29 May in several parts of northern and eastern Bihar, accompanied by increased rainfall and thunderstorm activity," said the met officer. The daily weather bulletin forecasts thunderstorm and lightning warnings for several districts. Very light to light rainfall accompanied by thunder, lightning and gusty winds up to 50 kmph is likely in parts of West Champaran, East Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Araria and Kishanganj over the next 24 hours. The prolonged heatwave has taken a heavy toll on daily life. Streets in cities and villages wear a deserted look during peak day hours as residents avoid stepping out unless absolutely necessary. Markets, construction sites and farmlands are also witnessing low footfalls, with labourers and farmers reporting quick exhaustion. Health authorities have advised vulnerable groups - especially the elderly, children and outdoor workers - to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day, keep themselves hydrated and avoid strenuous physical activity to prevent heatstroke and dehydration. Agriculture is also bearing the brunt of the extreme weather. "High temperatures and increased evapotranspiration have begun affecting paddy, maize and vegetable crops. Fruit orchards, particularly litchi in Muzaffarpur and mangoes across the region, face risks of fruit drop, reduced size and quality deterioration due to sustained heat above 38-40degC," said an agriculture department expert. In Katihar areas like Mirchaibari town area saw significant property damage with several vehicles parked roadside suffered heavy damage after uprooted trees fell on them. "Sudden strong winds didn't give the people any chance to shift their vehicles to safer places," locals said adding "Electricity suffered immense damage as several transformers fell down besides dozens of electric poles were uprooted." "We are trying our best to restore power," junior engineer monitoring the power restoration team at Mirchaibari said. In Purnea, a factory manufacturing food items located in Gulabbagh area under Sadar police station was badly damaged. "We are ruined as storm caused damage worth Rs 40 lakh," factory owner, Mala Thakur said and demanded economic assistance from the government. Besides the high speed squalls flattened standing crops and almost destroyed the maize crop. "This year unseasonal rains and strong winds have caused immense damage to our crops," Mohammad Ibrahim said adding, "This year's weather has caused considerable distress to farming community in Seemanchal."...