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According to IMD’s latest bulletin, West and East Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, are expected to witness scorching temperatures.
People shield themselves from the blazing sun as India faces an intense April heatwave, with several cities under severe IMD warnings.
Heatwave In India: Several parts of North, West and Central India continued to reel under severe heatwave conditions on Thursday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing warnings for several states as temperatures soared across the region.
New Delhi recorded its warmest May night in nearly 14 years as the minimum temperature settled at 31.9 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the weather office said. The last time the minimum temperature was higher than this was on May 26, 2012, when the minimum temperature settled at 32.5 degrees Celsius.
According to IMD’s latest bulletin, West and East Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Telangana, Odisha, Bihar, Rajasthan, and isolated pockets of Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand are expected to witness scorching temperatures over the next few days.
Meanwhile, the IMD has forecast widespread rainfall and thunderstorms across northeastern states including Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura over the next few days.
Here is the state-wise overview
Delhi
The national capital remained under intense heatwave and recorded its warmest May night in nearly 14 years, with the minimum temperature settling at 31.9 degrees Celsius on Thursday. The last time the minimum temperature was higher than this was on May 26, 2012, when the minimum temperature settled at 32.5 degrees Celsius.
A warm night is declared when the maximum temperature remains 40 degrees Celsius or more and the minimum temperature departure is between 4.5 degrees Celsius and 6.4 degrees Celsius above normal, according to the IMD.
Among the weather stations, Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 31.9 degrees Celsius, 5.2 notches above the season’s normal, followed by Ridge at 30.6 degrees Celsius, 4.4 notches above normal, news agency PTI reported.
The city has been placed under an orange alert as the maximum temperature is expected to touch 46 degrees Celsius, with the IMD forecasting heatwave conditions during the day.
The city also reported its first heatstroke case of the season as a 24-year-old student from West Bengal was admitted in Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in critical condition after collapsing while travelling on a train.
Doctors said that the patient had symptoms including vomiting, loose motions, altered sensorium and extremely high body temperature. He was immediately treated with immersion cooling therapy and remains under intensive medical management.
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is witnessing some of the harshest heat conditions in the country, prompting the Meteorological Department to issue a “Red Alert” – the highest weather alert level – for the next three days, followed by an orange alert thereafter.
The weather office said the absence of any active weather system, clear skies, dry weather and hot winds linked to an anticyclone over central India have intensified the heat across the state.
Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are likely across eastern Uttar Pradesh, while western Uttar Pradesh is expected to witness heatwave conditions and unusually warm nights over the next several days.
Banda recorded the highest temperature in the country on Wednesday at 48 degrees Celsius. Prayagraj recorded 46.4 degrees Celsius, Hamirpur 46.2 degrees Celsius and Jhansi 45.9 degrees Celsius. Temperatures in Aligarh, Varanasi and Hardoi also remained above 43 degrees Celsius.
The extreme weather has begun affecting agriculture and business activity.
In Ballia district, farmers said paddy sowing had come to a halt due to fears that crops could get damaged in the scorching heat. Several farmers said they were delaying sowing despite preparing their fields.
In Aligarh, traders described a “lockdown-like” situation in major markets as daytime footfall dropped sharply because of the heat. Traders said business turnover had fallen drastically over the past three days.
In Balrampur district, around a dozen girls studying at a Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya fell ill due to heat and humidity. Eight students were admitted to hospital with symptoms including fainting, vomiting and headaches. Following the incident, district authorities ordered the closure of all Kasturba schools in the district.
Rajasthan
Rajasthan continued to remain in the grip of an intense heatwave, with Sri Ganganagar recording the highest temperature in the state at 46.5 degrees Celsius on Thursday, news agency PTI reported.
Most parts of the state recorded temperatures between 42 and 44 degrees Celsius, while dry weather conditions are expected to continue over the next week.
The Meteorological Department said a fresh western disturbance may bring thunderstorms, gusty winds and dust storms to northwestern and northern Rajasthan on May 22 and 23. However, temperatures are expected to rise again after May 24, with severe heatwave conditions likely in some areas.
Roads and marketplaces wore a deserted look in several cities as residents stayed indoors during the afternoon. Authorities in Jaipur and Alwar used water tankers to cool roads and set up temporary shaded shelters for pedestrians.
Wildlife parks in Kota also stepped up cooling arrangements for animals by spraying enclosures with water and installing coolers and additional drinking stations.
Odisha
Odisha’s capital Bhubaneswar witnessed severe humid heat conditions, with temperatures reaching 38.4 degrees Celsius by late morning on Thursday.
Due to humidity levels of around 56 per cent, the Heat Index – or the “feels like” temperature – surged to nearly 53 degrees Celsius, making conditions extremely uncomfortable.
Meteorologists said humid winds from the Bay of Bengal are worsening heat stress in coastal areas, increasing the risk of dehydration and heat-related illnesses.
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh is also facing severe heatwave conditions, with the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) warning that extreme temperatures are likely to continue over the next four days.
The highest temperature recorded in the state this season was 47.6 degrees Celsius in Piduguralla of Palnadu district. Temperatures crossed 45 degrees Celsius in at least 11 districts.
Authorities said severe heatwave conditions are likely in dozens of mandals across the state, especially in districts including Palnadu, Krishna, Prakasam, Eluru, Bapatla, Guntur and Nellore.
The APSDMA advised people to avoid travel between 11 am and 4 pm and urged vulnerable groups, including the elderly, pregnant women and people with health conditions, to take extra precautions.
Residents have also been advised to drink sufficient water and consume cooling beverages such as buttermilk, lemon water and coconut water.
Himachal Pradesh
In Himachal Pradesh, the Una district administration issued a public advisory amid rising temperatures and increasing risk of heatstroke.
Day temperatures in Una have been hovering between 43 and 45 degrees Celsius, with officials partly attributing the rise to ongoing forest fires.
Health officials advised people to drink plenty of water, wear loose cotton clothing and avoid direct sunlight during peak hours.
(With inputs from agencies)
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