The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for intense heat across much of India from April to June. They anticipate “extreme heat” conditions and predict a significantly higher number of heatwave days compared to the usual occurrence during this period.
The prediction comes as the country prepares to hold the world’s largest elections with tens of thousands expected in political rallies that have already begun to build up and are expected to reach a crescendo in the peak summer weeks. The seven-phase polls begin on April 19 and end on June 1.
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Union Minister Warns of Increased Heat Wave Threats, Urges Enhanced Preparedness
“There is projection for extreme heat waves in the next three months. All the stakeholders including state governments have made elaborate preparations. Large number of lives have been lost in the past due to extreme heat waves. The level of our preparation has increased manifold. We came out with a national disaster management plan,” said Kiren Rijiju, the Union minister for earth sciences, during IMD’s seasonal temperature outlook briefing.
Around 10 to 20 days of heat waves are expected in various parts of the country against the usual of four to eight days seen in a usual year. The most heat wave prone areas are Gujarat, Madhya Maharashtra, north Karnataka followed by Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, north Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, IMD said in its outlook.
“People have to take part in electoral process and face extreme heat at the same time. We have to be extremely careful in the electoral process,” Rijiju added.
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Impending Water Shortages Expected Amid Rising Temperatures, Wheat Crop Unaffected
Hotter temperatures are likely to fan water shortages gripping several cities, including metropolitan cities of Bengaluru and Hyderabad, although no impact on the winter-sown wheat crop is likely as harvesting has already begun, the weather department officials said.
During a political event in Maharashtra last year, approximately 30 individuals succumbed to extreme heat exposure. The tragedy occurred during the Maharashtra Bhushan Award ceremony, attended by around one million people. The event commenced at 11am and concluded at 2pm, coinciding with the hottest hours of the day. The ceremony took place in a 306-acre ground in Kharghar, on a day when temperatures reached 38°C, exacerbated by humid conditions resulting in a significantly elevated heat index.
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