Mumbai: On Sunday, temperatures in Rajasthan’s Phalodi soared to a blistering 50 degrees Celsius, marking the highest temperature recorded in India since June 2019, when Churu hit 50.8 degrees Celsius.
This severe heatwave has swept across large parts of the country, affecting millions and presenting significant challenges during the ongoing general elections.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that the extreme heat has impacted not only the northern plains and central regions but also the hill states of Himachal Pradesh, and northeastern states like Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
In these regions, temperatures soared to unprecedented highs, with places like Assam’s Silchar and Lumding hitting 40 and 43 degrees Celsius respectively, and Arunachal Pradesh’s Itanagar and Pasighat reaching 40.5 and 39.6 degrees Celsius.
Amidst the oppressive heat, thousands of voters braved the conditions to participate in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Voting took place in 58 seats across eight states and Union territories, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi. Many voters endured long queues without adequate shade, water, or cooling facilities. Reports from Delhi indicated that temperatures exceeded 45 degrees Celsius in six locations, leading to instances of voters fainting due to the extreme conditions.
In Rajasthan, other cities also experienced record highs, with Barmer reaching 48.8 degrees Celsius, Jaisalmer 48 degrees, and Bikaner 47.2 degrees. The state’s disaster management department has urged district collectors to implement measures to provide relief to people, animals, and birds affected by the heat.
The IMD warns that the extreme heat is expected to persist in parts of Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra until May 29.
Heatwaves pose a significant health risk. According to the World Health Organization, over 166,000 people worldwide died due to heatwaves between 1998 and 2017. In India, 3,812 deaths were attributed to heatwaves from 2015 to 2022, with Andhra Pradesh recording the highest number of fatalities.
Beyond immediate health impacts, extreme heat affects productivity and education. Studies indicate that students perform worse during hot school years, and with 15% of government schools in India lacking functional electricity, rural educational outcomes are disproportionately affected.
Agriculture also suffers, with inadequate cold-chain infrastructure leading to significant losses in fresh produce. India faces food losses worth USD 13 billion annually due to heat, with only 4% of produce covered by cold chain facilities.
A World Bank report projects that India could account for 34 million of the global 80 million job losses due to heat stress-related productivity declines by 2030.
The ongoing heatwave underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate its impacts on health, productivity, and food security across the nation.
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