Scorching heat to continue in North West India for 5 days
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New Delhi: India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts that the extreme heat melting in northwest India will continue for another five days. The weather office said the states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi are going to have the maximum impact.
On Friday, areas in north India experienced brutal heat with mercury levels of 47.4 degrees Celcius in west Delhi's Najafgarh. This was the highest season in India so far.
IMD on Saturday predicted a severe heat wave over the plains of northwest India during the next five days and a heat wave over east and central regions during the next three days.
The Met office also issued a "red" warning for Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and west Rajasthan, stressing the need for "extreme care for vulnerable people".
It issued an orange alert for east Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar and emphasised "high health concerns" for vulnerable people, including infants, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases.
In view of general elections in India, experts have warned of an increased likelihood of heat-related illnesses in people exposed to the sun for prolonged periods or engaging in heavy work.
A US-based group of climate scientists called 'Climate Central' said 543 million people in India will experience at least one day of extreme heat during May 18-21.
"Human-caused climate change has made this intense heat much more likely. The high overnight temperatures make this event particularly alarming," Andrew Pershing, VP for science at Climate Central, said.
Heatwaves can be deadly, with the elderly and children particularly at risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1,66,000 people died as a result of heatwaves between 1998 and 2017.
Extreme temperatures can also impact economies. People are less productive during hot weather, even if they work indoors, while children struggle to learn in extreme heat.
A study in 2022 said extreme heat resulted in a labour productivity loss of USD 2.1 trillion equivalent in 2017.
On Friday, the maximum temperature surged to 47.4 degrees Celsius in Najafgarh and 47.1 in Haryana's Sirsa.