Pune: Heatwave Sweeps Across Maharashtra, Posing Challenges to Public Health
Pune, 13th May 2023: Heatwave conditions have been declared by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in various regions of Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Palghar, Thane, Konkan, central Maharashtra, and Vidarbha. This is the fourth heat wave alert for the season for the Konkan region and the first for the month of May, according to the India Meteorological Department while several areas in central Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha have been reeling under above normal temperatures for the past three weeks.
The state is currently experiencing high temperatures, with the mercury soaring above normal levels, posing significant risks to public health and well-being. Authorities and individuals are advised to take immediate preventive measures and follow necessary guidelines to mitigate the impact of the heatwave and ensure the safety of residents in these affected areas.
Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, Former Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, “There is clear indication that the intensity and frequency of heatwaves have increased across India. This intensity and frequency are projected to increase further in the coming years. This year, there was considerable rainfall in northern and northwestern regions of the country due to various western disturbances in April and early May, and many heat waves have occurred towards central and east India indicating some climate anomalies. Now, as Cyclone Mocha moves through the Bay of Bengal towards Bangladesh and Myanmar, the westerlies will be influenced, causing more heat waves in India’s north, central, and coastal regions, as we are seeing along the Konkan coast. The high temperatures may not last for a long time, and will subside in the next four to five days for central India and the Maharashtra region.
Along with heat wave warnings, there is a need to issue clear directives to citizens at the city and district levels to avoid going out during the afternoon hours (11.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.) during the warning period, particularly for senior citizens and children wherever possible, stay hydrated, avoid dehydration, and take other basic precautionary measures. In terms of long-term strategy, there is a need to review district-level heat action plans based on dynamic climatic scenarios, scale and improve them to encompass the potential impact, and guarantee there is a strategy in place to combat these rising heat waves and their frequency.”
Dr Anjal Prakash, Associate Professor (Research) and Research Director with the Bharti Institute of Public Policy at the Indian School of Business (ISB) and Lead Author of two distinct IPCC Reports (released between 2019 and 2022), said, “As the IPCC reports have indicated, there will be significant seasonal variability as temperatures rise. The planet has already warmed by 1.16 degrees Celsius since the pre-industrial era, and this will continue at an unprecedented rate. The planet is anticipated to warm by 1.5 degrees Celsius by the middle of the century, up from the end of the century. Every fraction of warming has implications for the way seasons are organised. This has two significant ramifications. 1) wet areas will be wetter, while dry areas will have more dry spells – and 2) rainfall unpredictability will result in periods of constant rain and periods of protracted dry spells. As a result, seasons have been entirely thrown off, which has implications across numerous sectors, including agriculture. Rising temperatures leading to heat waves are now an increasing cause of concern, with serious consequences for human health. The government must be prepared to incorporate this into the heat action strategy. The assessment of the effects of heat on human health must be prioritised and included in governance planning.”
Aditya Pillai, Associate Fellow at Centre for Policy Research and Co-author of the report, ‘How is India Adapting to Heatwaves?: An assessment of heat action plans with insights for transformative climate action’, assesses 37 HAPs across 18 states
“We’re seeing a spike in extreme heat along the Konkan coast for the second time this year and multiple heatwave warnings across the Vidarbha, Marathwada and central Maharashtra region. It’s important to step back and think about this in terms of a broader rise in heatwave alerts as the planet gets hotter. The key is to make sure we have well-oiled public machinery in place to respond to this. We have made progress in forecasting and communicating heatwave warnings, the next step is to have localised heat action plans and implement responses quickly, efficiently and repeatedly over the course of a summer. Given how frequently we get these heatwave warnings now, it’s also important that we start putting long-term heat measures in place – increasing the amount of shade in our cities or access to water and other forms of cooling, for example. These things have the added benefit of making cities and towns more liveable, even when it isn’t a heatwave.”
Lubaina Rangwala, Associate Director, World Resources Institute (WRI) India, “This year’s summer has been brutal, and each year it is getting progressively worse. Last April, Mumbai saw temperatures higher than 35 deg-C with relative humidity upwards of 80% in some areas. What this means is that the city was exposed to a heat index (or wet bulb temperature) upwards of 50 degree Celsius. In coastal cities temperatures higher than 35 degree Celsius are dangerous because they surpass a body’s ability to cool off after exposure and result in severe illnesses, and fatalities. In this scenario, across the country, it is a national emergency that cities, and districts prepare heat action plans that are well monitored and tailored to the needs of those most vulnerable.”
Highest Maximum Temperatures in Maharashtra (May 11 and 12)
Location
Maximum Temperature (in degree Celsius)
May 11, 2023
May 12, 2023
Central Maharashtra Region
Jalgaon
44.8
44.9
Jeur
42
43
Solapur
41.5
41.4
Pune
41
40.8
Nashik
40.7
39.7
Vidarbha Region
Akola
43
44.5
Wardha
43
43.4
Amravati
41.4
42.6
Nagpur
41.3
42
Chandrapur
41.2
41.6
Marathwada Region
Parbhani
42.6
43.6
Beed
41.9
42.6
Aurangabad
41.4
41.4
Mumbai and Konkan Region
Mumbai (Santacruz)
36.9
35.2
Dahanu
36.2
36.7
Alibaug
36
37
(Source: India Meteorological Department – All temperatures in Maharashtra can be accessed here: http://www.imdnagpur.gov.in/pages/observations.php?subdiv=25)
