India (Commonwealth Union)_ India is currently experiencing abnormally high temperatures during this summer season, as indicated by forecasts from the weather department, which suggest that conditions ranging from a heat wave to a severe heat wave are likely to persist across several regions, including the national capital. Accordingly, on Wednesday, Delhi, the capital of India, witnessed its highest-ever temperature at 2:30 PM. According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Mungeshpur area in Delhi registered a temperature of 52.3 degrees Celsius. Subsequently, the city also experienced showers in the evening, offering some relief from the intense heat wave.
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In addition to this record-breaking temperature, Delhi has also witnessed its highest-ever power demand, reaching 8,302 megawatts (MW) as a result of severe heatwave conditions prevailing across major cities in northern India. The increase in temperature occurred following a day when Delhi nearly touched 50 degrees Celsius at three of its weather stations located in the outer regions. Notably, weather stations in Mungeshpur, Narela, and Najafgarh have consistently reported extreme temperatures in recent times. Previously, Rajasthan’s Churu held the record for the hottest district of the season, recording a temperature of 50.5 degrees Celsius.
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Furthermore, experts attribute the heatwaves originating from Rajasthan as a significant contributor to the extreme temperatures observed in the capital. Mahesh Palawat, vice-president of meteorology and climate change at Skymet Weather, explained that areas with open land experience heightened radiation due to direct sunlight and a lack of shade, resulting in exceptionally high temperatures. Kuldeep Srivastava, the regional head of the IMD, noted that certain areas of Delhi are generally vulnerable to the early arrival of hot winds, exacerbating the severity of the weather. Areas such as Mungeshpur, Narela, and Najafgarh are often the first to bear the brunt of these hot winds.
Among other regions experiencing exceptionally high temperatures were Phalodi in Rajasthan, recording 51 degrees Celsius, and Sirsa in Haryana, recording 50.3 degrees Celsius. Accordingly, the weather office had previously issued warnings of extreme heat across most parts of the national capital. Temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius are generally considered rare worldwide, with such occurrences predominantly observed in the Middle East or South Asia regions.
According to data from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), India has so far witnessed 60 heat-related deaths since March 1. Of these, 32 fatalities were attributed to heatstroke, while an additional 28 deaths are suspected to be heatstroke-related. Government data further reported that on May 22 alone, two individuals in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan’s Kota succumbed to suspected heatstroke. Additionally, 16,344 suspected cases of heatstroke were reported since March 1, with 486 cases recorded on May 22 alone.
Additionally, statistics from Factly.in indicate that between 2009 and 2022, the Ministry of Earth Sciences reported 6,751 heatwave-related deaths, while the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) registered 11,090 deaths during the same period. Additionally, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) estimated 15,020 deaths due to heat strokes in its annual Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) report for the same timeframe. Experts have urged the public to acknowledge the likelihood of witnessing record high temperatures. These statements come in light of a weather station in Delhi reporting a temperature of 52.3 degrees Celsius, the highest ever recorded in India. However, the weather office has announced plans to inspect the temperature sensor at the Mungeshpur automatic weather station to ensure its accuracy.
According to KJ Ramesh, former Director General of Meteorology at the India Meteorological Department (IMD), records for phenomena such as heatwaves, lightning, and thunderstorms continue to be broken due to the active contribution of greenhouse warming and climate change. Additionally, Dr. Vivek Nangia, a pulmonologist at Max Super Speciality Hospital, highlighted the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to high temperatures, emphasizing symptoms ranging from heat rash to potentially fatal heat stroke. He stressed the importance of recognizing these symptoms and seeking immediate medical attention when necessary. The last-stage symptoms of heat stroke are a high fever, high sweating, and unresponsiveness.
In response to the escalating heatwave, the IMD issued a red alert health notice for Delhi, which is home to an estimated population exceeding 30 million people. The alert cautions of the very high likelihood of heat-related illnesses and heat stroke across all age groups, emphasizing the necessity for extreme caution, particularly among vulnerable individuals. A heatwave prevails when the actual maximum temperature remains 45 degrees Celsius or more, irrespective of the normal maximum temperature over a specified region. Although India has a history of experiencing scorching summer temperatures, scientific research indicates that climate change is amplifying the duration, frequency, and intensity of heatwaves.
