Deadly Heatwave Still Rising in India and Pakistan, Millions of Lives at Risk
With intense spring heatwave due to global warming, millions of people residing in the regions of India and Pakistan are now at the risk of serious heat-related illnesses and even, death
The rising heatwave has already damaged the harvests across large parts of the Indian subcontinent. The intense heat waves are also making people suffer from heatstroke. And, the flickering lights in several cities are exacerbating the condition as the peak summer months approach.
In March, the temperatures in India hit their highest level in around 125 years, as per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) records. This year’s high temperature for March was 91.58 degrees Fahrenheit (33.10 Celsius).
The neighbouring country Pakistan is also suffering from the same conditions. In 2021, the country experienced its highest temperatures ever since 1961. The officials in Pakistan also warned that this week is likely to be soaring 46 degrees Fahrenheit higher than normal. Pakistani authorities are urging the public to stay indoors and avoid “unnecessary exposure” to the sun, while medical personnel has been asked to prepare for more cases of heatstroke.
Why it’s a big problem?
The intense heatwaves are putting millions of lives at risk in the heavily populated regions of India and Pakistan. With many indoor facilities without air conditioning, people could suffer from various heat-related illnesses. Even the food security of these nations is at stake, as the heat has hit harder on the breadbasket areas.
Image: New York Times
In addition, the heatwaves will also make it difficult for outdoor workers to complete the construction work. And, slow construction means an impact on the economy. Various researches states that the frequent, intense and long-lasting heat waves across the world are the results of human-caused global warming.
Heatwave will only get worseSadly, this deadly heatwave is not expected to stop anytime soon. The high temperatures are expected to go up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas by the end of this weekend.
Experts say that New Delhi could experience temperatures between 40-50 degrees Celsius. It means the temperatures are expected to be over 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
Image: NYTimes
There won’t be any change in these conditions without any amends in human behaviour towards the global phenomenon. If the conditions remain the same, large parts of these countries could become extremely hot for normal habitats.
Via: Axios
