Heatwave Scorches Unexpected Parts of India

Heatwave Scorches Unexpected Parts of India – The relentless heatwave sweeping across the nation has taken an unexpected turn, scorching regions that are typically unaccustomed to such extreme temperatures. From the backwater havens of Kerala to the hill stations nestled in the Western Ghats, and even the tech hub of Bengaluru, the searing heat has defied geographical norms.

Alappuzha, a coastal town renowned for its serene backwaters, experienced a sizzling 38°C, while the picturesque hill station of Matheran recorded an unprecedented 39°C – the highest April temperatures ever recorded in these regions. In Bengaluru, two weather stations registered a staggering 38.5°C and 37.6°C, ranking among the third and fourth hottest April days on record. Even the remote Aminidivi island in Lakshadweep was not spared, facing the 10th highest temperature ever at 36.6°C.

Heatwave Scorches Unexpected Parts of India

The heatwave’s unrelenting grip has shattered longstanding temperature records across various states. Arogyavaram in Andhra Pradesh recorded a scorching 41°C, the second highest ever, while Canning in West Bengal witnessed temperatures soaring to 42.4°C, also the second highest on record. Cuttack in Odisha reported 43.7°C, the fifth highest for April.

In Tamil Nadu, Dharmapuri blazed at 41.2°C, the second highest ever recorded, while Diamond Harbour in West Bengal experienced the sixth highest temperature at 41.3°C. Kerala’s Kottayam sweltered at 38.5°C, the second hottest April day, while Palakkad recorded 41.6°C, the fourth highest ever. Andhra’s Kurnool reached a scorching 45.2°C, the third highest on record.

Prolonged Heatwave Spell Forecast

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a grim warning, forecasting that the heatwave to severe heatwave conditions will persist for the next five days across large swathes of east and south peninsular India. States like West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, parts of Jharkhand, Rayalaseema, interior Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana are expected to bear the brunt of this unrelenting heatwave.

Electoral Process Impacted by Intense Heat

Alarmingly, 186 of the 191 constituencies scheduled for polls in the next two phases fall within regions projected to experience peak temperatures above 35°C over the next five days. A staggering 136 of these constituencies could face temperatures exceeding 40°C, potentially deterring voters from turning out, following already depressed turnouts in the first two phases.

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No Respite Until May

There is little prospect of relief from the scorching heat until May 1, with only some thunderstorm activity expected afterwards, according to the IMD director general. He noted that the prolonged heat episode in east India is unusual for April, which typically witnesses only one to three days of heatwave conditions.

The combination of high temperatures and humidity has led to heat index forecasts ranging from 40-50°C across parts of the East Coast and peninsular South, with some areas potentially reaching a sweltering 60°C.

As the unprecedented heatwave rages on, defying geographical norms, concerns mount over its impact on public health, agricultural productivity, and the critical exercise of democracy through the electoral process.