1. Record-breaking April heatwave hits eastern and peninsular India during 2024 general elections.
2. Climate scientists link intense heat to climate crisis, raising concerns for public health.
3. Prolonged heatwave in April poses risks to residents amidst ongoing 2024 general elections.
Weather Forcast, May 01: Eastern and peninsular India experienced record-breaking temperatures throughout April, subjecting residents to prolonged periods of intense heat amid the backdrop of the 2024 general elections.
Climate scientists attribute this scorching heatwave to the ongoing climate crisis, warning of its implications on public health and safety.
According to data from the Meteorological Department, April marked the warmest on record for eastern and northeastern India in terms of night temperatures since records began in 1901, ranking as the third warmest in mean temperatures.
Similarly, the peninsula witnessed its second warmest April across maximum, minimum, and mean temperatures.
OP Sreejith, head of climate monitoring and prediction at the weather office, emphasized the role of El Nino and climate change in driving these unprecedented temperatures. However, despite the extreme conditions, heat-related fatalities often go unrecorded due to complications such as organ failure.
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In stark contrast, the northwest region, including Delhi, experienced relatively mild weather during April, courtesy of successive western disturbances that moderated temperatures.
The month ranked as the ninth warmest overall for the country, according to India Meteorological Department analysis.
The warmest April in peninsular India since 1901 was observed in 2016, coinciding with an El Nino event, a phenomenon characterized by weaker monsoons and drier weather patterns in India.
M Rajeevan, former secretary at the earth sciences ministry, noted the predictability of such events and anticipated their persistence for the next few days, potentially extending into central and northwest India in May.
Recent temperature records paint a grim picture of the heatwave’s impact, with severe heatwaves documented across Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Notable extremes include Panagarh in West Bengal reaching 45.6 degrees Celsius, 10 degrees above normal, and Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh hitting 44.6 degrees, the highest ever recorded.
Mahesh Palawat, vice-president of climate and meteorology at Skymet Weather Services, highlighted the persistence of extreme heat across various regions, attributing it to landward winds influenced by an anti-cyclone over the Bay of Bengal.
This unprecedented heatwave underscores the urgent need for adaptive measures and proactive interventions to mitigate its adverse effects on public health and well-being.
