The scorching heat has created havoc these days. There is intense heat in the central and eastern parts of the country including the plains of North-West India. Half of the country is scorching in Nautapa. In Phalodi, Rajasthan, the mercury reached around 50 degrees Celsius recently. In many areas of the country the temperature remains between 45 to 48 degrees. The situation reached such a level in Akola, Maharashtra that the district administration had to impose Section 144.
Heat is also directly affecting people's health. There has been a rise in the number of people falling ill due to heat stroke in hospitals across the country. In such a situation, the question is how much higher can the temperature go? How much effect does it have on health? What effect is heat having on the environment?
First let us know how the weather is?
India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday that heat wave is going on in some areas of Rajasthan, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, Western Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Gujarat. It is extremely hot in these states even at night. In Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir and plain areas of Himachal Pradesh, the temperature remains above 40 and heat wave is going on.
We are sweating even on the mountains. Qazigund in Kashmir recorded 43 on Sunday, Kokernag 22 and Bhaderwah in Jammu division recorded the second highest temperature in May after 23 years. Even in all the mountains of the state, the day temperature is 4 to 9 degrees above normal. The maximum temperature in Jammu was recorded at 42.5 degrees Celsius.
So what will the weather be like ahead?
Talking to tinnynewss, IMD scientist Soma Sen Roy said that red alert will last for three days in Punjab, Haryana, Western Rajasthan and Western Uttar Pradesh. After that the temperature will start falling in every area. Will go into orange alert. The intensity will remain but the distribution will reduce because some western disturbance is also coming. Due to this the temperature will gradually start decreasing. The temperature will remain high for three days in Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and Western Rajasthan. This situation will last for two days in Eastern Rajasthan and Western Madhya Pradesh.
According to IMD, extreme heat will continue till May 29 in most areas of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan. During this period, severe heat will also be felt in some areas of UP, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
Some areas of the North-East, including West Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya, are expected to get some respite from the scorching heat, as Cyclone Remal in the Bay of Bengal may receive rain and strong winds after hitting the coast.
What effect can extreme heat have on health?
Shrey Srivastava, a doctor of internal medicine at a hospital in Noida, said that dehydration (lack of water or dehydration) is the most common problem among people who are exposed to excessive sunlight. In the beginning, due to lack of water, problems like dry mouth, weakness and low blood pressure may occur. In severe cases of dehydration, excessive loss of water from the body through sweat can lead to acute kidney injury and liver-related complications. Due to dehydration, urine production also reduces and this can have a negative impact on kidney health.
Another problem caused by heat is heat stroke. Excessive exposure to sunlight or heat stroke can cause health problems like fainting, dizziness. The severe condition of heat wave also starts affecting the brain cells and nerves. Health complications can become more serious as fluid loss increases.
What effect is heat having on the atmosphere?
Earlier in early May, the European Union's climate agency Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) had said that this was the 11th consecutive month when the temperature reached record levels. The average temperature in the month of April was 15.03 degrees Celsius. The global average temperature for the past 12 months (May 2023-April 2024) is the highest ever recorded, 1.61 degrees Celsius above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average, the climate agency said. This heat is being considered the cause of drought, forest fires and floods across the world. Due to the effects of climate change, the world is facing severe weather conditions.
