Once again the heatwave is wreaking havoc. Many parts of north-west India were in the grip of severe heat on Friday and the maximum temperature in Najafgarh, Delhi reached 47.4 degrees Celsius, which is the highest in the country so far this season. The mercury crossed 45 degrees Celsius at 19 places in Rajasthan, 18 in Haryana, eight in Delhi and two in Punjab. Heatwave is expected in the plains of north-west India during the next five days. Researchers at the US-based group of climate scientists “Climate Central” said that during this period 54.3 crore people in India will face severe heat for at least one day.
Temperatures across 47 in Najafgarh and Sirsa
Heatwave conditions are considered when the maximum temperature reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains, 37 degrees in coastal areas and 30 degrees Celsius in hilly areas and is at least 4.5 degrees Celsius above normal. “Human-induced climate change has made this extreme heat more likely. The nighttime maximum temperature makes this event particularly worrisome,” said Andrew Pershing, vice president of science at Climate Central. On Friday, the maximum temperature in Najafgarh reached 47.4 degrees Celsius and in Sirsa in Haryana 47.1 degrees Celsius.
Maximum mercury in North-west 43.2 degrees Celsius
According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) till 7:30 pm, Najafgarh remained the hottest place in the country. Earlier, on April 30, Kalaikunda in the Gangetic region of West Bengal recorded a maximum temperature of 47.2 degrees Celsius. In Delhi, the mercury was 46.5 degrees in Mungeshpur, 46.2 degrees in Ayanagar, 45.9 degrees in Pusa and Jafarpur, 45.8 degrees in Pitampura and 45.1 degrees in Palam. At the same time, the temperature has increased in the lower and middle hill areas of Himachal and the maximum mercury reached 43.2 degrees Celsius in Una, which was the hottest area of the state.
Heatwave Alert from 18 to 21 May
The IMD has said in its forecast for Delhi that strong surface winds may blow at a speed of 25 to 35 kilometers per hour during the day on Saturday and the sky may remain mainly clear. The IMD has warned that severe heat conditions are likely to develop in parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi from May 18 to 21. The heat wave may again hit eastern and central India from Saturday. The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for western Rajasthan, stressing the need for “extreme care for vulnerable people”.
The IMD issued an orange alert for Haryana, Punjab, East Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat and expressed “high health concern” for vulnerable people, including infants, the elderly and those suffering from pre-existing diseases. The department has warned that people are likely to fall ill due to prolonged exposure to the sun or heavy work in the open. The Meteorological Department had predicted in May that heatwaves could last for more days than usual in northern plains and central India.
What is the situation in Madhya Pradesh?
This time in the scorching heat of May, the weather changed repeatedly and hailstorms also occurred along with rain, but now the Meteorological Department has issued a severe heat alert for four days in Nimar and Gwalior, Chambal divisions, and other areas of the state. During this time the mercury will reach 44 degrees, while hot winds will also blow. Along with this, the Meteorological Department has also predicted rain at some places.
There will be a severe heat alert
There is a severe heat alert in Gwalior, Chambal, and Nimar till May 21. A heatwave will blow in 15 districts here. Heatwave conditions may prevail in Gwalior, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Sheopurkalan, Shivpuri, Niwari, Khandwa, Burhanpur, Khargone, Tikamgarh and Chhatarpur and the mercury may rise rapidly to 43 degrees.
