Heat wave
New Delhi
Extremely hot weather conditions prevailed in various parts of India especially the north and west.The eastern state of Bihar also reported abnormally high heat waves.
ASI Bineesh, a Delhi cop, collapsed and died during a training session for promotion in Delhi on Wednesday. He complained of chest pain and subsequently died while receiving treatment at a hospital, officials said.
The incident occurred amid soaring temperatures in northern India, with regions like Churu in Rajasthan recording temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius.
The weather bureau said the temperatures were 12 degrees higher than expected.
In Delhi, Mungeshpur region on Wednesday recorded 52.3 degree Celsius, an all time highin the country. Delhi and adjoining areas such as Rohtak and Hisar received light showers in the evening on Wednesday providing temporary respite from the sizzling weather.
However, a hot day is expected on Thursday, May 30th as well.
On Wednesday, places like Phalodi, desert state of Rajasthan recorded 51 degrees Celsiuswhile Sirsa in Haryana -- adjoining the national capital - showed 50.3 degrees Celsius high temperature.
Even as New Delhi and other places in the north have recorded abundant use of Air Conditionerstaking power utilisation to record demands in the last few days, the heat wave has hit the poorer andlower middle class people the most who cannot remain indoors.
The authorities have been urged to stay indoors and wear light, loose cotton clothes.
Daily wage earners, market stall sellers and construction workers have mostly stopped working between noon and 4-5 pm. "Even if I restart work at 5pm, the rods are burning and the heat from the sparks makes it worse,” said Babu Ram, a welder in South Delhi.
Sameer Prakash, a vegetable vendor, typically stands outside next to his cart until about 2pm, waiting for customers to emerge from their air-conditioned homes.
He alternates between splashing water on the vegetables to stop them wilting, and on his head to avoid heatstroke.
“What’s the choice? No one is going to feed my children unless I take some money home"., reportednewspaper The Guardian.
City authorities warned of the risk of water shortages as the capital swelters. Delhi water minister of the City Govt, Ms Atishi Marlena, called for “collective responsibility” in stopping wasteful water use.
“To address the problem of water scarcity, we have taken a slew of measures such as reducing water supply from twice a day to once a day in many areas,” she said.“The water saved will be rationed and supplied to the water-deficient areas where supply lasts only 15 to 20 minutes a day," she said.
People are complaining of dehydration, sun stroke and increase in blood pressure and stomach/digestiveproblems.People also complain of fingers being scorched from touching the steering wheel of a car.The tap water was coming out at boiling temperatures.
The India Meteorological Department has issued red and orange alerts in various parts of north India.
It says: there is a "very high likelihood" of developing heat illness and heat stroke in all ages.
Heat remains high even during the night.
Residents complained of even ACs not functioning effectively in late night hours in East and West Delhi.
India is going through such an extreme heat wave coincidentally also with theelection season.Six rounds of voting that started on April 19 is over across India.
However, the seventh and the final phase of polling in 57 parliamentary constituenciesincluding Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and agrarian state of Punjab's 13 seats are tobe held on June 1. Counting of votes will take place on June 4.
On April 24, chairing a preparatory meeting for the ensuing summer season,Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed upon the "whole of Government approach". He said that all arms of the government at Central, State and District levels and various Ministries need to work on this in synergy to deal with
heat conditions. Modi also stressed upon awareness creation along with adequate preparation in hospitals. He also highlighted the need for quick detection and putting out forest fires, officials said.
The Prime Minister was briefed about the temperature outlook for the period from April to June, 2024 including the forecasts for the upcoming hot weather season (April to June), the likelihood of above normal maximum temperatures over most parts of the country, especially with high probability over Central India and western peninsular India.
Preparedness in the health sector was reviewed in terms of essential medicines, intravenous fluids, ice packs, ORS and drinking water.
The timely dissemination of essential IEC / awareness material especially in regional languages through all platforms such as television, radio and social media was stressed upon. Since a hotter than normal summer is expected in 2024, which coincides with the General Elections, it was felt that the Advisories issued by MoHFW and NDMA be translated into regional languages and disseminated widely.
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"Tree plantation should not be linked to drawing media publicity or a photograph on Facebook and selfies. You may do all these too. But environmental concerns should become people's mission at the mass level. Our central government is immensely sensitive to these issues," says BJP national vice president M Chuba Ao, who hails from Nagaland.
"We all should mark the beginning of refreshed commitment for the environment and issues related to climate change," he says.
"I have been travelling across northeast and some parts of east and north India during elections and I could find that everyone is talking about the need to grow more trees," he said.
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