imd: IMD says heat wave to continue in northwest, central India: Key points | India News

NEW DELHI: Heat waves are set to continue in the northwestern and central parts of the country until Monday, weather forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has stated. Maximum temperatures in some parts of the country touched 46 degree Celsius, the IMD said in a statement on Sunday. Thunderstorms are likely in some areas till Wednesday, according to the statement.
Some parts of the country clocked record high average temperatures for March and heat waves in April. The weather condition will exacerbate India’s power crisis as demand for air conditioners surges at a time when power plants are facing acute coal shortages.

Delhi simmers, but respite is in the wind
After three days of consistent severe heatwaves, Delhi received some much-needed respite on Sunday as the mercury dropped by three degrees Celsius. However, heatwave conditions were recorded in some isolated areas.

The weather department forecasts the respite to continue for next six days, but daytime temperatures will still likely hover around 40 degrees Celsius.
According to the IMD, the maximum temperature is likely to drop slightly on Monday. “There is a possibility of thundershowers or pre-monsoon light rain in the region over next 3-4 days in the neighbouring areas of Delhi. The possibility of showers is low in Delhi,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice-president, Meteorology and Climate Change, Skymet.
25 heat stroke deaths in Maharashtra, most in 6 years
Heat stroke has claimed 25 lives in Maharashtra this year, the highest in six years. Data from the health department showed over 374 cases of heat stroke have been reported in March and April, although experts say the actual number could be much higher.
Districts in north and central Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha have been reeling under temperatures ranging over 40-46 degrees. The highest number of deaths due to heat stroke has been recorded in Vidarbha (15), followed by six in Marathwada and four in Jalgaon from north Maharashtra.

Scientists call for heat action plan after IPCC alert on Kolkata
The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report underlined Kolkata’s vulnerability to extreme heat waves, with the city remaining on the periphery of India’s extreme heatwave atlas. Climate scientists urged the state to have its Heat Action Plan (HAP) ready to reduce heat-related deaths and address underlying conditions of vulnerability across spatial segregation of the urban poor.
The IPCC report said that on average Kolkata will experience heat equivalent to the 2015 record heatwaves every year. In 2015, heatwaves killed 2,500 people in India. Kolkata along with Delhi runs a high drought risk, the report said.
Since March 1, Kolkata did not receive rainfall till April 29 when there was a light drizzle for a couple of minutes. On Saturday, April 30, the city experienced the first thundershowers.