The Heatwave Continues in Large Parts of India, Well over 100 Hospital Cases are Documented

A severe heatwave is sweeping across India, with the IMD issuing alerts for extreme heat in multiple states. Odisha has reported one death and over 100 hospitalizations due to heat-related illnesses.

A sizzling heatwave has all over India been escalated as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts of "heatwave to severe heatwave" conditions in various states in the next five days.

In the east, it has been the states of Odisha that have been hit, with heatwave conditions since April 15, and parts of West Bengal, that have seen heatwaves since April 17. However, one death as a result of heatstroke has been reported in the district of Balasore. Additionally, the situation is serious, with 124 people hospitalized in 16 districts due to heat-related illnesses.

The IMD predicts the next 4-5 days to be very hot in states such as West Bengal, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Sikkim, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. The regions that are coastal in nature comprising Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura may also experience a high humidity level which will be uncomfortable to the denizens.

In particular, Varanasi and the areas nearby Purvanchal in Uttar Pradesh experienced high temperatures of about 43°C since Saturday. The heatwave alerts from April 27 through to April 29 also extend to Maharashtra regions like Thane, Raigad, and Mumbai.

The recorded death toll of over 110 due to heat waves upon the country in April and June last year raises the public’s vulnerability issue at present as the country continues to experience searing temperatures. Health officials have come up with recommendations that advise the public to stay away from the high-intensity sun and to be cautious about heatstroke.

Also Read: Intense Heatwaves Scorch India, IMD Issues Alerts

It happens alongside the seven-phase election to the parliament, adding to the concerns of the impact it may have on the voters. IMD had earlier alerted that extreme heat condition would prevail during April-June months due to El Niño, which was a weakening condition.

Given that climate change is accelerating the frequency and severity of heatwaves, it becomes imperative to curtail the negative impacts on the population and to enhance the adaptation capacity of the community against this emerging health and safety risk.