India: Record-Breaking Heatwave Hits the Country
Published yesterday at 13:04, Updated yesterday at 16:10
Residents pass by a water cooling system at a market square during the heatwave in Varanasi, India, on May 31.
NIHARIKA KULKARNI / AFP
The heatwave that lasted for 24 days in different regions of the country could occur more frequently, last longer, and be more intense in the future.
The ongoing heatwave in India is the longest ever recorded in the country, said the director of the Indian Meteorological Department on Monday, warning of increasingly relentless temperatures. Some regions in northern India have been experiencing an exceptional heatwave since mid-May, with temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius.
“This is the longest period of heat, as it has lasted about 24 days in different parts of the country,” said Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the country’s chief meteorological expert, in an interview with the Indian Express. The mercury is expected to drop as the monsoon rains move north by the end of June, but Mohapatra warned that these harsh conditions may repeat in the future. “Heatwaves will be more frequent, longer-lasting, and more intense if precautionary or preventive measures are not taken,” he said.
Coal Dependency
India is the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases. The country has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2070, two decades after most industrialized Western countries. For now, India heavily relies on coal for its electricity production. “Human activities, population growth, industrialization, and transportation are leading to increased concentrations of carbon monoxide, methane, and chlorocarbons,” Mohapatra said. “We are not only endangering ourselves but also future generations.”
Scientific research has shown that climate change is causing longer, more frequent, and more intense heatwaves worldwide. The recent heatwave in India saw temperatures in New Delhi equaling the previous record in the capital of 49.2°C, recorded in 2022. On May 29, an automatic weather station in Mungeshpur, on the outskirts of Delhi, recorded a record temperature for India of 52.9°C, but this recorded temperature was due to a faulty sensor, authorities later clarified. Elsewhere in Delhi, 17 other stations recorded a maximum of 49°C on the same day.