BHUBANESWAR: A scorching heatwave continued unabated in several parts of India, killing 55 people, mostly in Odisha in last 24 hours.
As the nation grapples with these extreme weather conditions, there is a glimmer of hope for some relief, with forecasts predicting dust storms or light rainfall in several parts of northern India, including Delhi.
According to a statement from the Disaster Management Department, the majority of these deaths occurred in Bihar, where at least 41 people, including 12 in Rourkela, died of suspected heatstroke, while 14 people, including 10 polling personnel, have died from heatwave in Bihar.
The automatic weather station (AWS) in Nagpur, Maharashtra recorded a maximum temperature of 56 degrees Celsius.
The searing heatwave conditions have griped the country at a time when the elections for the Lok Sabha are in its last stage, with the final phase of voting scheduled for Saturday.
Here are the latest updates on the heatwave conditions gripping India:
- Reports from Nagpur show an alarming maximum temperature of 56 degrees Celsius, reported Indian media. The recording was allegedly made by an automatic weather station (AWS) situated in an open agricultural field. However, the accuracy of this reading is questioned, with the IMD yet to confirm its validity.
- In Delhi, the temperature has soared to 45.4 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Light rain and thunderstorms are anticipated during the day. Power companies in the capital are utilizing advanced transformers to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply, essential amidst the sweltering heatwave.
- The IMD has announced the progression of the Southwest Monsoon into parts of the northeast Bay of Bengal, northwest Bay of Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim.
- Favorable conditions are predicted for the Southwest Monsoon to advance into additional regions within the next 2-3 days, including central Arabian Sea, south Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep area, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Southwest Bay of Bengal.
- Madhya Pradesh faces intense heatwave conditions, with Sidhi district recording a scorching 48.2 degrees Celsius and Khajuraho in Chhattarpur hitting 47 degrees Celsius.
- Responding to heat-related fatalities, the Rajasthan High Court has taken suo motu, advocating for the declaration of heatwaves and cold waves as “national calamities.”
- Bihar reports 19 heatwave-related deaths, including a worker on Lok Sabha election duty. With elections ongoing, medical teams are deployed to ensure voter safety amidst the oppressive heat.
- In Maharashtra’s Amravati district, villages in the Melghat region face a severe water crisis due to the intense heatwave, compelling residents to collect water from polluted sources.
- The Congress accuses the BJP-led Rajasthan government of downplaying heatwave-related fatalities, asserting that over 100 deaths have occurred. The government refutes these claims, maintaining that only five deaths have been officially recorded.
- In Odisha, heatwave conditions persist in districts like Sambalpur, Balangir, Surendargarh, and Angul. The state’s special relief commissioner urges caution and awareness, following the tragic deaths of 41 individuals, including 12 in Rourkela, from suspected heatstroke in the past 24 hours.
