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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reviewed the preparedness to deal with heatwave as the country braces for the record summer heat. He chaired a meeting where he was also briefed on the monsoon forecast, its potential impact on seasonal crops and the availability of water for drinking and irrigation.
The main wheat-producing region of the north and northwest is already being scorched by unusually high temperatures this year.
PM Modi reviews plan to deal with heatwave
PM Modi's review of the country's readiness to cope with hot weather takes on significance amid predictions of a return of El Niño conditions in the Pacific that could herald a weaker monsoon in India, resulting in lower crop production and higher prices.
He said that separate awareness material should be prepared for different stakeholders, including citizens; medical professionals; municipal authorities and panchayat; disaster response teams such as firefighters, etc.
He was also instructed to incorporate some multimedia lecture sessions in schools to sensitize children on how to deal with extreme heat conditions.
PM Modi said that protocols and hot weather do's and don'ts should be prepared in accessible formats, and other modes of publicity such as jingles, movies, flyers, etc. should also be prepared and published.
He requested IMD to issue daily weather forecasts in a way that can be easily interpreted and disseminated. It was also discussed that TV news channels, FM radio, etc. could spend a few minutes a day explaining the daily weather forecast in a way that would allow citizens to take the necessary precautions.
The prime minister stressed the need for detailed fire audits of all hospitals and for fire drills to be conducted by firefighters in all hospitals. The need for a coordinated effort to deal with forest fires was also noted. It was discussed that systemic changes need to be made to support efforts to prevent and address wildfires.
Warmest February in India in 122 years
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that this February was the warmest in 122 years since 1901. India’s meteorological department has forecast a March-May heatwave across most of the country after record-high temperatures in February.
India is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. The most extreme weather events, such as heat waves, severe floods and severe droughts, kill thousands of people each year and add to economic hardship by eroding agricultural productivity.
Above-normal low temperatures are likely in March across most of India, except in the southern Indian peninsula, where low temperatures are likely to be normal or below normal.
Most likely, the average rainfall in the country is normal (83-117% of the long-term average). Below-normal rainfall is most likely in most areas of North West India, West Central India and some parts of East and North East India.
Normal to above normal rainfall is likely over most of mainland India, east-central India and some isolated parts of northeast India.
Keep Reading
- ‘El Niño’ Arrives: 2023 Could Be The Hottest In History
- IMD: February was warmest in 122 years since 1901, know reason?
- El Niño could raise temperatures globally later this year
- Chennai, Kolkata are at particular risk due to sea level rise
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