Thiruvananthapuram: Scant cloud cover and the absence of rain may continue to push the mercury-levels in Kerala by 3 degrees above normal on Tuesday, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

A warning has been issued by the IMD for Monday and Tuesday for six districts, namely Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur. The normal temperature in these districts is 33 degrees Celsius.

On Monday, Kottayam recorded 36 degrees Celsius, 3 degrees more than the normal, while in Alappuzha it was 37 degrees and Thrissur 38 degrees.

Thiruvananthapuram recorded 35 degrees Celsius, 2 degrees above normal. Meanwhile, Kozhikode recorded 35 degrees Celsius and Kannur 37 degrees.

With mercury-levels on the rise, the state labour department has already issued orders rescheduling the working hours of those who are exposed to sunlight by allowing mandatory break times to prevent sunstroke.

As per the order, which has come into effect from February 11 to April 30, those working on morning shifts would get a mandatory three-hour break from noon to 3pm.

Their eight-hour shift would commence from 7 am.

For the other shifts which begin after morning and post-noon, it would be rescheduled to end before noon and begin after 3 pm, as per the order.

The instructions would not be applicable to those labourers working in places over 3,000-feet above sea level.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has warned those exposed to sunlight including construction workers, roadside vendors, traffic policemen, media reporters, traffic inspectors to take adequate precaution during their duty hours.