New Delhi: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a cautionary notice on Thursday regarding elevated temperatures, balmy evenings, and sultry atmospheric conditions expected to persist for the ensuing five days across sections of Karnataka, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha.
As per the morning bulletin from IMD, “instances of scorching heat are highly probable in isolated pockets across North Interior Karnataka on 4 and 5 April; Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal from 4th to 8th April; Jharkhand, Rayalaseema, Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam from 4th to 6th April.”
Attributed to the cyclonic circulation above northern Bangladesh and another similar pattern positioned over eastern Assam and its surrounding areas at lower atmospheric levels, Arunachal Pradesh is anticipated to experience widespread to extensive light to moderate precipitation/snowfall, accompanied by sporadic thunderstorms and lightning. Additionally, scattered to widespread light to moderate rainfall is anticipated over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura from 4th to 10th April.
Per the seven-day prognosis, Bihar, East and West Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and segments of Gujarat including March, Marathwada, and Punjab are projected to remain “arid.”
The Coastal-North-South interior Karnataka, Jharkhand, certain parts of Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chattisgarh, Telangana, and segments of Kerala are forecasted to encounter “scattered” rainfall over the next seven days.
It is imperative to underscore that Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, in addressing the issue of heatwaves, underscored the necessity for a pragmatic evaluation of the prevailing circumstances by instituting a centralized repository integrating inputs from states, encompassing data on fatalities and incidents.
“IMD has forecasted El-Nino for the ongoing year, consequently heightening the likelihood of a heatwave. IMD has also indicated an elevation in summer temperatures this season,” articulated Mandaviya.
Given that this year coincides with electoral activities, and to avert any heat-related adversities, I have conducted a comprehensive review session with IMD officials, Health Department representatives, and Disaster Management authorities, urging the issuance of advisories to state administrations on behalf of the central government,” Mandaviya appended.
While the persistence of the heatwave and a potential escalation in temperatures are anticipated concomitant to the electoral process in India, states and union territories have been urged to reassess their healthcare infrastructure preparedness, encompassing provisions for essential medications, intravenous fluids, ice-packs, oral rehydration solution (ORS), potable water, as well as Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) initiatives targeted at the public.