In India, millions of people are suffering from heatwaves

Photo by Raj K Raj/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Millions of Indians are suffering from a severe heatwave that is disrupting their lives and businesses, with no sign of relief in sight.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reminded state chief ministers that “temperatures are fast rising in the country, and rising considerably earlier than usual.”

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts a steady increase in maximum temperatures of 2–4 degrees Celsius across most of northwestern and central India this week, with “no major change thereafter.”

While heatwaves are usual in India, particularly in May and June, this year’s summer started early, with high temperatures as early as March – the month’s average maximum temperatures were the highest in 122 years. During the month, there were also a few heatwaves.

According to the Centre for Science and Environment, early heatwaves have hit around 15 states this year, including Himachal Pradesh in the north, which is famed for its temperate temperatures.

The temperature in Delhi, the capital, is projected to reach 44 degrees Celsius this week.

The present heatwave, according to Naresh Kumar, a senior scientist at IMD, is due to local atmospheric variables.

Weak western disturbances (storms that originated in the Mediterranean region) were the main cause of the minimal pre-monsoon rainfall in northwestern and central India. In March, anticyclones, which are areas of high atmospheric pressure where the air descends, brought hot, dry weather to parts of western India.

The results can be seen. Farmers claim the sudden temperature surges have affected their wheat harvest, which might have global ramifications due to supply shortages imposed by the Ukraine conflict.

The heat has also raised the electricity demand, causing outages in many states and raising concerns about coal scarcity.

Since 2015, the federal and state governments have taken a variety of steps to alleviate the consequences of heat waves, including limiting outdoor work during the warmest hours of the day and issuing timely alerts.

But, as Ms Singh points out, initiatives can only be effective if they are supported by larger-scale improvements like overhauling labour laws and greening cities.

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