On Thursday, the Indian meteorological department (IMD) has warned that a severe heat wave was expected to affect many Northern states in India. The states expected to be hit include Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. This warning follows an extremely hot May 22, during which temperatures in these areas surpassed 45 degrees Celsius. Weather agencies are predicting intense heatwaves conditions in these states over the coming five days. This forecast comes as Delhi and various constituencies in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are set to participate in the sixth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha election on Saturday. On May 25, the day of polling, temperature in the Delhi NCR area is anticipated to soar to 47 degrees Celsius.
According to the meteorological office, it has indicated that regions including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh will experience heatwave to severe heatwaves conditions until May 25. Moreover, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, and sections of Madhya Pradesh are also expected to endure severe heatwaves through May 25, whereas Maharashtra is predicted to face similar intense heat until May 24. “Temperatures are presently above average across northwest India, prompting us to issue a red alert for the region over the past 2-3 days,” senior IMD scientists Naresh Kumar stated on Tuesday. We have already issued a red alert for both states. It is anticipated that the high temperatures would rise from 45 degrees Celsius to 47 degrees Celsius. “Due to current western disturbance, maximum temperatures in Punjab and Haryana have slightly decreased, but they will thereafter rise by two to three degrees, for these two states, we have already issued a “red alert”. In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, a red alert has been issued for the next five days, while northern parts of Madhya Pradesh are under an orange alert”, stated Kumar.
NEWS – PREETI CHAUHAN.
