In Odisha, India, the death toll has now reached 99 due to the severe heatwave, with fatalities totaling 33 for the polling staff in Uttar Pradesh. In Delhi where the scorching temperatures in some parts reached record levels, the condition has worsened because of lack of water this time round.
Several districts in Odisha state seem to be the worst hit by extreme temperatures, and suspected heat stroke deaths. Bolangir, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Sonepur, Sundergarh, and Balasore have been mentioned as the most affected areas. It is now important for people to completely adhere to heatwave advisories while also taking preventive actions.
Uttar Pradesh witnessed a different kind of tragedy during the recent elections. As many as 33 poll personnel, including home guards, sanitation workers, and other staff, succumbed to the heat. Additionally, a voter lost their life at a polling booth.
Even Delhi, the capital city itself, is not exempt. Just last week Mungeshpur recorded 52.3 degrees Celsius as its highest-ever temperature in the city. Even though an inaccurate temperature reading led to the revision of this figure down to 49.3 degrees, there has been a noticeable increase in temperatures. At this rate, it will indeed not take long before Delhi turns into what the sitting judge at The Delhi high courts calls a “wasteland” as increased desertification through deforestation can transform the area surrounding it into barrenness.
Specialists are certain that this summer in Northern India can be the worst one over the last 120 years, some densely populated areas have seen it get unusually hot with temperatures going beyond 45 degrees. Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister was reviewing the situation and emphasized on necessity of a detailed audit on fire and electrical security in key infrastructure.
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, and parts of Odisha are some of the areas now being affected by the hot spell that is sweeping through North India. It is so hot in one of the areas that some people are finding it unbearable mainly due to the excessively high temperatures mixed with equally high humidity levels. The dangerous levels of the critical wet-bulb temperature pose a severe health risk because the human body reaches them due to heat and humidity jointly.
Adding fuel to the fire, Delhi is experiencing a water shortage. Residents are struggling to access water as the scorching temperatures further strain the already stressed supply.
However, there is a glimmer of hope. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a slight respite over the next three days, with a gradual reduction in heatwave intensity. Rainfall is expected in parts of Rajasthan, offering some relief.
It is expected by the IMD that there will be scattered zones under hot and humid conditions in Bihar, Goa, and Odisha in the days ahead, as for Jammu though its heatwave shall carry on till the 4th of June accompanied by thunderstorm and rainfall in the evening. On the other hand at Srinagar, the temperature has gone up beyond average since it increased remarkably leading to its highest peak of 30.3 degrees Celsius.
While the heatwave shows signs of receding, the human and environmental toll it has taken needs immediate attention.
