What Is A Heatwave And Should India Brace For The Worst?

 

India is reeling under an intense and deadly heatwave a phenomenon that is likely to worsen in the years to come.

Maharashtra has recorded 374 cases of heatstroke in March and April with 25 deaths, the most in six years. Vidharbha and Marathwada have been the worst-hit regions.

 

The India Meteorological Department has forecasted severe heatwave conditions for for the first week of May in most of the country, with temperatures expected to cross above normal levels in many places.

 

Areas in Western Gujarat, Eastern Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Tripura, Bihar and Odisha recorded departures of maximum temperatures between 4°C and 5.7°C on April 28. Rajgarh in West Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest temperature last week when the mercury touched 45.6°C on April 27.