Water tankers are filled in New Delhi, India, as another heatwave is forecast in the months ahead. Bloomberg
Water tankers are filled in New Delhi, India, as another heatwave is forecast in the months ahead. Bloomberg
Water tankers are filled in New Delhi, India, as another heatwave is forecast in the months ahead. Bloomberg
Water tankers are filled in New Delhi, India, as another heatwave is forecast in the months ahead. Bloomberg

Narendra Modi reviews India's plan to deal with unprecedented heatwave


Taniya Dutta
  • English
  • Arabic

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reviewed India's preparedness to deal with hot weather, as the country braces for unprecedented summer heat, his office said on Monday.

He chaired a meeting at which he was also briefed on the monsoon forecast, its potential impact on seasonal crops and the availability of water for drinking and irrigation.

The main wheat-growing region of the north and north-west is being scorched by unusually high temperatures already this year.

The Prime Minister was briefed about the readiness of the states and hospital infrastructure for emergencies.

The national weather agency has warned of extreme weather ahead.

A heatwave is declared when the temperature breaches the 40°C mark and is at least 4.5°C above normal seasonal levels.

“Enhanced probability of occurrence of heatwave during March to May season is likely over many regions of central and adjoining north-west India,” the Indian Meteorological Department said in its seasonal outlook.

India recorded its hottest February, in the north-west, in 122 years since records began in 1901.

The average daytime temperature was as much as 4°C above the norm at times last month.

The weather office has forecast more heatwaves than last year, with the high temperatures having an adverse affect on agriculture.

A hot day in New Delhi last summer but weather forecasters are predicting more heatwaves this year. Reuters
A hot day in New Delhi last summer but weather forecasters are predicting more heatwaves this year. Reuters

Mr Modi met officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Earth Sciences and National Disaster Management Authority.

Last year, the nation of 1.3 billion people was reeling under one of the hottest summers in almost 125 years, with several parts of the country blasted by the scorching heat.

In the capital Delhi, the temperature rose above 49°C in May — the highest recorded in the capital — which was preceded by the hottest March on record in the country.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: March 07, 2023, 8:58 AM`