New Delhi: The heatwave, which swept across large parts of the country on Friday, intensified in many places, surpassing the 45-degree mark. Three Indian cities including Hisar (46 સે C) in Haryana, Patiala (45.9) C) in Punjab and Prayagraj (45.9 C) in Uttar Pradesh were among the top 5 hottest places in the world today. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the spell of heatwave will continue for the next five days in North West and Central India and for the next three days in East India.Also read – West Bengal: Teachers’ union urges CM Mamata Banerjee to reconsider 45-day summer vacation order amid heat waves
“Maximum temperatures are expected to rise by about two degrees Celsius in most parts of north-west India over the next two days,” he said. The meteorological agency has also issued Orange Alert for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha region of Maharashtra for the next three days. Also read – Moving the pandal? ‘Desi Jugaad’ of wedding party is having fun on the internet to beat the heat | Watch
What is a heatwave and how are weather warnings mapped?
IMD uses four color codes for weather warnings. Green means no action required, yellow means look and stay updated, orange means be prepared while red warning means take action. Also read – CBSE Term 2 Exam 2022: Board asks examination centers to make proper arrangements for students between heatwave, covid surge
A heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature is above 40 સે C and the minimum is 4.5 કરતાં C above normal. According to IMD, severe heatwave is declared if departure from normal temperature is more than 6.4 degrees. A heatwave is declared when an area receives a maximum temperature of 45 સે C, depending on the exact temperature recorded. Severe heatwave is declared if maximum temperature exceeds 47-degree mark.
According to meteorologists, temperatures in parts of northwestern India could reach 47 degrees Celsius. “A maximum of 45 degrees Celsius is normal in places like Churu, Barmer, Bikaner and Shree Ganganagar in Rajasthan, but 45-46 degrees Celsius is quite unusual in the plains of North India by the end of April,” said independent meteorologist Navdeep Dahiya. .
How does heatwave affect health?
The IMD said the heatwave could lead to “moderate” health concerns for the weak, such as infants, the elderly and those with chronic diseases. “So people should avoid exposure to heat, wear light and light colored cotton clothes and cover their heads with hats or umbrellas,” he says.
People who are exposed to the sun for long periods of time or who work hard are more likely to develop heatstroke symptoms, according to an IMD advisory.
Dilip Mavalankar, Director, Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar (IIPHG), said, “People need to pay attention to the IMD advisory, stay indoors, keep themselves hydrated and rush to the nearest health center if they notice any signs of heat.” – Related Illness. “
“During the Covid-19 waves we have a special need to keep an eye on older and vulnerable people as they can develop heat stroke even when they are sitting at home,” he said.
Mawlankar said that to get a real indication of heat stress on mortality, cities should compare daily mortality data with hospital admission and ambulance call data with data from last five years.
Mortality is higher in early heat waves due to low adaptation and readiness during March and April, he said.
What to do during a heatwave
- Stay indoors and in a shady place as long as possible
- Wear thin loose cotton, light colored clothing.
- Cover your head with an umbrella / hat / towel when out.
- Drink water and salty drinks (lassi, lemon water, fruit juice, ORS) frequently.
- Eat fruits like watermelon, cucumber, lemon, orange etc.
- Take frequent cold showers and lower the room temperature.
- Use window shades / curtains, fan, cooler, air-conditioner, cross-ventilated room, sprinkler, indoor plants etc.
- If a person feels unwell, especially the elderly, children, pregnant women and those with pre-existing medical conditions, they should immediately move to a cool place, at least wear clothes, sponge with cold water and take to nearby health. Will come. Convenience
Do not do during the heatwave
- Avoid going out in the sun, especially between 3pm
- Avoid strenuous activities when out in the afternoon.
- Avoid drinking alcohol, tea, coffee and carbonated soft drinks
- Do not leave children or pets in parked vehicles.
- Don’t wear dark, synthetic and tight clothing, as it absorbs more heat.
Heatwave conditions across India
Most parts of India have been experiencing above-normal temperatures since the last week of March, with meteorologists attributing it to the absence of active western disturbances, the absence of light rain and thunderstorms at typical intervals for this time of year.
At least four western disturbances were observed in northwest India in March and April, but they were not strong enough to bring about significant change in the weather, said Mahesh Palawat, vice president (meteorology and climate change) at Skymet, a private weather forecasting agency. No significant pre-monsoon activity was observed in the region from March 1 to April 20 which continued to increase the intensity of the heatwave, he said, adding that it also had an effect on Central India.
Vidarbha in Maharashtra and western Rajasthan have recorded maximum temperatures in the range of 40 degrees Celsius to 45 degrees Celsius for the last two months.
Amid a 71 per cent rainfall deficit, India had the hottest March since the IMD set a record 122 years ago. Dahiya said that after recording three long heatwave spells, it could be one of the hottest Aprils in the country’s history.
(With agency inputs)
