Thiruvananthapuram, Thursday 11 March 2010: Taking serious note of the drought situation and incidents of sunstroke in worst- hit Palakkad district, Kerala government has decided to send a team of scientists to assess the condition and suggest remedial measures.

Temperature in many parts of Palakkad district touched as high as 40 to 42 degree Celsius in the last few days and five persons suffered sun burns at Mannur, Mankara and Pathiripala areas, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told the assembly today.

Instructions have been issued to the District Collector to regulate working hours of labourers in unorganised sector in view of the heat condition prevailing in the district. The issue of changing timing of school hours also would be considered, he said.

A team of experts would visit the area in the next two days to assess the situation.