Heat

As the scorching summer peaked across most of the country, people were desperately seeking respite from the unrelenting heat.

India's Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for three states, West Bengal, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, warning of dangerously high temperatures.

A recent announcement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), El Niño is likely to develop this summer, a recurring weather pattern that can cause widespread disruption of marine ecosystems and impact global weather events.

In a report by the journal Lancet Countdown, the consequences of high temperatures in South America were analyzed for the first time. One of the findings was the 35% increase in dengue during 2012-2021, compared to 1951-1960.

The weather conditions have changed drastically these days. Experts say the spring and summer season in India is likely to be dry and hot this year and have instructed the country to be prepared for El Nino.

For millions of people, daily life continues with heatwaves. But for those living below the poverty line or without access to reliable, affordable and sustainable energy, their ability to adapt and thrive is held back without access to cooling.

In some regions of the country, electricity has had major cuts and the water supply has also been affected. After an extremely hot month of March, this latest heatwave highlights the ravages of the climate emergency.