Northern India Grapples with Extreme Heatwave, Disrupting Daily Life

New Delhi. The extreme heatwave gripping northern India has disrupted daily life. Streets and markets have become deserted during the day, and farmers and traders alike have been forced to shift their working hours to the night to escape the unbearable temperature. As the temperature continues to rise, a significant change in lifestyle has been observed in many parts of India.

India's Meteorological Department has forecast that the maximum temperature in the capital New Delhi will reach around 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) on Thursday. In view of the risk of extreme heat, authorities have set up temporary 'cooling zones' in various places to provide relief to citizens. These places are arranged for people to spend some time in a cool environment.

The Meteorological Department has warned that in the coming days, the temperature in many places in the northern region will remain even higher than the seasonal average. Authorities have urged people to stay indoors, avoid unnecessary outdoor activities during the extreme heat of the afternoon, and take necessary precautions to prevent heat-related health problems.

In India, a heatwave is declared when the temperature in the plains reaches 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) or more, and in the hilly areas, it reaches 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) or more.

The severe heat has brought life to a standstill in many states of North India, including Uttar Pradesh. Streets and markets are almost closed during the day, and people are forced to stay indoors. As the afternoon temperature becomes unbearable, some traders have started shifting their working hours to the morning, and farmers have also started shifting their work time in the fields to the night.

The impact of the heat has also been profound in the education sector. Authorities in various places have announced summer holidays in schools and suspended classes. Meanwhile, the maximum temperature in Banda city reached 48.2 degrees Celsius (118.8 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday. This is one of the highest records of the year.

Health officials have urged citizens to take special precautions. They have advised people not to go out in the extreme sun during the afternoon, drink plenty of water, and seek immediate medical help if they experience symptoms such as dizziness, extreme fatigue, or high fever.

In the capital New Delhi, cooling shelters have been set up in various places as a relief measure. These places are equipped with air coolers, fans, drinking water, and oral rehydration solution (ORS), providing some relief to citizens and tourists.

On Wednesday, people were seen seeking relief from the heat near air coolers inside a cooling tent. Officials were distributing salted water there.

Basharat Ahmed Mallah, a 25-year-old tourist who came there, shared his experience, saying it was difficult to roam outside due to the extreme heat. According to him, the cooling center provided some respite, albeit temporary.

According to climate experts, this rising temperature in India is not just a seasonal phenomenon but is directly related to global climate change. In recent years, India has repeatedly faced extreme heatwaves, and data shows that the last decade was one of the hottest decades in the country.

According to Anjal Prakash, a professor of Public Policy at Flame University in Pune, associated with the United Nations Climate Report, India's temperature is rising significantly due to human-induced climate change. He stated that Northwest India is heating up even faster than other regions.

He said that although India is somewhat accustomed to the summer season, climate change is intensifying extreme and widespread heat events. Studies in the public health sector show that an average of 1,116 deaths occurred due to heat each year from 2008 to 2019. However, experts estimate that the actual number could be much higher.

In many cases, the actual figures appear lower officially because heat is not mentioned as a direct cause on death certificates.