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Heatwave News: Delhi experienced its hottest night in at least 14 years as the minimum temperature soared to 35.2 degrees Celsius, marking a stark departure from the norm, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD reported that the city’s maximum temperature also surged to 43.6 degrees Celsius, which is 4.8 notches above the season’s average.
The IMD further highlighted that the previous warmest night in Delhi was recorded on June 3, 2010, when the minimum temperature had reached 34.7 degrees Celsius. An IMD official noted that records dating back to 1969 were examined to establish this new milestone.
“This is an unprecedented rise in minimum temperatures for June, setting a new record for Delhi,” stated the IMD official, cautioning that the city remains under an ‘orange’ alert due to prevailing heatwave conditions.
The relentless heat has taken a toll on the city’s healthcare system, with hospitals reporting a surge in heatstroke cases, news agency PTI reported. At the RML Hospital, authorities revealed they had received 22 patients in the past 48 hours, resulting in five fatalities and several patients on ventilator support. Similarly, Safdarjung Hospital recorded 60 heatstroke cases with six casualties, while LNJP Hospital reported four deaths due to suspected heatstroke, as per PTI.
The situation has prompted urgent measures from health authorities and the government.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda has directed central government hospitals to establish special heatwave units to handle the escalating crisis. ALSO READ | Heatwave: Health Ministry Issues Advisory, Asks States & UTs To Submit Data On Heatstroke, Deaths Daily
A glimmer of hope comes from the IMD’s forecast of a fresh western disturbance, expected to bring light rainfall to Delhi on Thursday. It is anticipated to provide marginal relief from the scorching temperatures that have persisted since mid-May.
Heatwave Conditions In North India Trigger Peak Power Demand, Exacerbate Water Crisis
In a broader context, swathes of northern and eastern India continue to reel under severe heatwave conditions, with temperatures soaring above 45 degrees Celsius in several states including Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. A slight reprieve is expected from a forthcoming western disturbance, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). However, this relief is projected to be minimal in alleviating the scorching temperatures prevailing over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and north Rajasthan, where maximum temperatures ranged between 43 to 45 degrees Celsius.
The IMD highlighted that heatwave to severe heatwave conditions persisted across various regions including Uttar Pradesh, south Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, and pockets of Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and the Jammu division.
Recent showers in Uttarakhand, notably in Dehradun, and thunderstorms in Shimla today provided temporary relief amidst the prolonged dry spell.
In Haryana, Nuh recorded the highest temperature at 45.3 degrees Celsius, with Faridabad at 45 degrees Celsius and Gurugram at 43.6 degrees Celsius. Chandigarh, serving as the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana, also endured temperatures peaking at 43.1 degrees Celsius.
Further exacerbating the situation, Sangrur in Punjab recorded 44.8 degrees Celsius while Pathankot saw 44.3 degrees Celsius. The severe heatwave has triggered a surge in water demand, plunging reservoir and river levels to record lows. Agricultural activities have been severely affected due to water shortages, while the strain on power grids has led to an increase in incidents like short circuits and fires, as per PTI’s report.
The Northern Regional Load Despatch Centre reported multiple tripping incidents on Monday due to an unprecedented peak power demand of 89.4 gigawatts, creating a supply gap of 16.5 gigawatts across affected states including Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Jammu and Kashmir, the report stated.
In recent weeks, Rajasthan has witnessed temperatures soaring to 50 degrees Celsius on two occasions, while Delhi has endured temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius consecutively for 36 days. On Wednesday, maximum temperatures in Rajasthan’s Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur, and Bikaner divisions were recorded two to five degrees Celsius higher than normal. The Meteorological Center in Jaipur reported sporadic rainfall in parts of eastern Rajasthan amidst cloudy weather, contrasting with dry conditions prevailing in western parts.
According to PTI, experts attribute this extreme weather pattern to climate change and the El Niño phenomenon, emphasising that heatwaves, once rare, have become more frequent and intense. Environmentalist Sunita Narain underscored the dangers of high night temperatures, which prevent the body from cooling down adequately, thereby increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and fatalities.
