Nueva Delhi: India will experience an unusually hot summer from April to June, and it is expected that heat wave days will be doubled in several states, the Department of Meteorology of India (IMD) warned Monday. It is likely that the center and east of India, together with the plains of the northwest, see prolonged spells of extreme heat.
IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra declared that most parts of the country will witness maximum temperatures above normal, except for some regions in Western India and this, where temperatures can remain almost normal. However, it is predicted that minimal temperatures are above average in most regions.
“From April to June, North, East and Center of India, as well as the plains of the northwest of India, they see two to four additional heat days of the usual,” Mohapatra told PTI. Typically, India records four to seven days of heat waves in this period.
Most affected states
The states that are expected to witness more intense heat waves include Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengala, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and the parts of the north of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Some states, such as East of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, could see up to 10 to 11 days of heat wave, Mohapatra added.
Growing temperatures and health risks
In April, it is forecast that maximum temperatures are higher than usual in most India, while some extreme regions of the south and northwest can see almost normal temperatures. The minimum temperatures will remain high in most of the country, except some areas in the northwest and the northeast.
The central government has already urged states to ensure that hospitals are equipped to handle cases of heat blows. Last year, India witnessed a record summer with 536 days of heat wave, the highest in 14 years, which led to 41,789 suspected cases of heat stroke and 143 confirmed deaths.
However, experts warn that heat -related deaths could be reported due to the inadequate data collection.
An over -the demand for electricity demand is expected
With the increase in temperatures, the demand for electricity is expected to grow by 9-10% this summer. Last year, the maximum demand for electricity crossed 250 gigawatts on May 30, exceeding 6.3%projections. The IMD warned that heat -based heat stress is a significant factor behind the increase in energy consumption.
The IMD predicts normal rain in April, which varies between 88-112% of the long-term average of 39.2 mm. Some areas in the northwest, northeast, central-west and peninsular India could receive normal rainfall above normal. However, Mohapatra also warned about possible landslides in the western region of Ghats of Kerala and Karnataka, as well as possible floods in the northeast states in April.
As India prepares for a hotter summer than usual, the authorities urge preparation to mitigate the effects of extreme heat on public health and infrastructure.