Many regions in India have called for a state of emergency as record-breaking heat triggers a public health crisis.
In recent days, India has experienced extreme heat conditions. On Thursday (May 30), Reuters reported that temperatures in New Delhi reached a record high of 52.9 degrees Celsius.
Experts have warned that the extreme temperatures across India are having the worst impact in the country’s densely populated megacities. The northwestern and central regions of India have been enduring a heatwave for several weeks, leading specialists to warn that the severe weather is rapidly becoming a public health crisis.
Authorities have yet to release official statistics on the number of heat-related deaths nationwide. However, on May 31, the states of Bihar and Odisha reported that at least 15 people had died, suspected to be due to heat stroke. Along with reports from several other states, at least 36 people have died due to the heat so far. In light of the situation, courts in several states have proposed declaring a state of emergency.
Due to the soaring temperatures, Delhi’s Deputy Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena directed the government on Wednesday (May 29) to ensure measures are implemented to protect workers by providing water and shaded areas at construction sites, as well as granting them paid leave from noon to 3 PM.
This year’s heatwave coincides with the national election period, forcing many to endure the heat to cast their votes.
A man bathing under a water pipe in the Yamuna plains on a hot day.
Residents of India are struggling against record heat.
Researchers indicate that human-caused climate change has resulted in severe heat impacts in India and should be seen as a warning.
Aarti Khosla, director of the Climate Trends Research Institute, told AFP that cities are more vulnerable to heat due to the “complex impacts of urbanization and climate change”.
She stated: “We can expect more hotter days, prolonged droughts, and less rainfall as weather patterns continue to shift due to increased human emissions.”
Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at the University of Reading (UK) and director of World Weather Attribution, noted: “The suffering that India is facing this week is further exacerbated by climate change, due to coal burning, oil and gas extraction, and deforestation.”
The world’s most populous country is the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases but has committed to achieving a net-zero economy by 2070 – 20 years after most Western industrialized nations.
