Heat wave likely to breach all previous records this summer, weather experts sound caution for electoral process
ALWAR (RAJASTHAN): Year 2023 was categorized to be one of the warmest years on record which was 1.48 degree C warmer than the average temperature recorded from 1850-1900. Previous warmest year record of 2016 was breached by 0.17 Degree Celsius. The rise in temperature has been attributed to the El Nino effect which is likely to trigger heat wave spells even this summer as it gradually fades out by May. Keeping under consideration the possible heat wave conditions that will prevail, weather experts have expressed concern over the impact it can have when the Lok Sabha Election process is underway. Professor at Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) Pune, Roxy Mathew Koll shared a detailed study here on Wednesday to predict heat wave conditions beginning as early as March and continuing through May, when at one hand the El-Nino effect will subside giving way to La-Nina effect. “Though El-Nino is the hot marine streams that warms up the environment, La-Nina theoretically brings in a cooling effect with cold streams but the overall impact does not quantitatively mitigate the heating effect of El-Nino,” he said. Citing the example of Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony of April 16, 2023 when as many as 13 people attending the mammoth gathering at Khargarh in Navi Mumbai died of heat stroke, Koll said that the temperature that day was between 34-38 degree Celsius. “It was not the temperature alone but the associated relative humidity of over 45% that was the culprit and did not allow the bodies of the victims to regulate its internal temperature via sweating. “Though the heat is blamed, it is the lack of basic precautions that led to the casualty,” he said, further issuing a caution that during 2024 electioneering such precautions must be in place. Corroborating the findings of IITM Pune, former director general of India Meteorological department, Dr KJ Ramesh who was speaking on the topic of ‘Heat waves: their prediction and current trends’ at the annual Anil Agrawal Dialogue (AAD-2024) organized by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said that higher humidity in coastal areas adds to the morbidity factor. “We have noticed unexplained death of newborns in the hospitals of Telengana during 2023 summers, where the maternity ward was located on the top floor. After observing the trend all hospitals were asked to shift their maternity wards,” he said, admitting that there must be precautionary measures in place before the campaign and election process for Lok Sabha election begins. The IITM Pune has released a set of advisory to this effect asking election commission and local administration to make adequate arrangements. “All campaigns and rallies should be planned with the heat impacts factored in. IMD will disseminate heat wave forecasts that should be followed, awareness campaigns, shaded waiting areas, hydration stations, cooling centres, healthcare facilities, flexible attire guidelines, transportation arrangements and outreach to vulnerable communities must be prioritised,” he said. Koll further added that on voting day, extended voting hours could be an option in localities where heatwave is forecasted, Polling booths should ensure that people standing in queues for long hours have access to shade water and toilets.
