2024 Indian heat wave
 | |
| Areas | India |
|---|---|
| Start date | May 2024 – ongoing |
| Peak temp. | 52.9 °C (127.2 °F), recorded at Delhi |
| Losses | |
| Deaths | 219+ |
| Hospitalizations | 25,000+ |
Since May 2024, a severe and long heat wave has impacted India.[1] The heat wave occurred during the Indian dry season, which typically lasts from March to July with peak temperatures in April and May with recording highest temperature of India that was recorded in Delhi's Mungeshpur.[2] Temperatures in the capital New Delhi alone exceeded nearly 53 °C (127 °F).[3] It was considered the country's hottest summer in 120 years.[4]
Casualties
As of 3 June, there were 219 deaths from the heat wave,[5] and 25,000 others suffered from heatstroke.[6] The dead included 33 workers who stationed on election duty when India was conducting the seventh and last phase of its general election.[7] There were 147 reported deaths in the state of Odisha, and 12 more in Rajasthan.[5]
In Delhi, temperatures reached up to 52.9 °C (127.2 °F) on 29 May.[3] There were more than twice as many heatwave days recorded in northwestern and eastern parts of the country than usual, mainly due to fewer non-monsoon thundershowers and warm winds blowing from neighbouring arid regions into India.[6]
Impact
Due to the intense heat increasing water consumption and lowering river levels, New Delhi is currently suffering from a water crisis requiring water tankers to be driven into distribution points in order to provide hydration to citizens whose taps ran dry.[8]
The intense, prolonged increase in temperature caused many manufacturing companies to lower working hours during the month of May, contributing to a national three-month low in the rate of increase in new orders.[9]
References
- ^ Jacob, Charmaine (14 June 2024). "In pictures: India records 'longest' heatwave, Delhi faces water crisis". CNBC. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ "Число жертв жары в Индии превысило 60 человек" (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ a b "The Delhi heat wave is testing the limits of human endurance: Other hot countries should beware and prepare". phys.org. 1 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "Intense Heatwave: India's Worst Summer in 120 Years". newskarnataka.com. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ Times of India. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Indian heatwave kills dozens over summer, media says nearly 25,000 fall ill". Reuters. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ "India's deadly heat kills over 200 people, including dozens of poll workers as elections wrap up". The Independent. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ Zargar, Arshad R. (3 June 2024). "At least 50 deaths blamed on India heat wave in just a week as record temperatures scorch the country - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 June 2024.