India's Met office warns of intense heatwave this summer

Most parts of India will experience an intense heatwave this summer with above normal temperatures expected across most of the country, its weather department has said.

Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, chief of the India Meteorological Department, said several states would experience more heatwave days than usual this year.

Many states already reported weekly average minimum temperatures above normal by 1-3C in February.

Hundreds die each year in India due to scorching heat. Sectors like agriculture also suffer as availability of water reduces.

In 2024, India recorded its hottest day at 50.5C on 28 May in western Rajasthan state's Churu city. The country's health ministry attributed 143 deaths to heatwaves between 1 March and 20 June.

Independent experts, however, believe the country is under counting the deaths caused by extreme heat. The Heat Watch 2024 report said 733 deaths due to heatstroke were reported across 17 states between March and June 2024.

This year, states like Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha could see as many as 10 to 11 heatwave days, Mr Mohapatra said in a press conference on Monday.

"From April to June, most parts of north and east India, central India, and the plains of north-west India are expected to experience two-to-four more heatwave days than normal," he added.

Last year, Mr Mohapatra had warned that heatwaves in India could become a more regular occurrence if action wasn't taken to address the extreme conditions.

India is the world's third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, relying heavily on coal to generate power for its needs.

"Human activities, increasing population, industrialisation and transport mechanisms are leading to increased concentration of carbon monoxide, methane and chloro-carbons," Mr Mohapatra had said last year.

"We are endangering not only ourselves, but also our future generations."