NEW DELHI – India’s heat wave has become the country’s longest, with the government’s top meteorologist warning on Monday that people will face severe weather.
Parts of northern India have been gripped by a heat wave of over 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) since mid-May.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told The Indian Express, “This is the longest spell that has been experienced for 24 days in some parts of the country.”
The mercury is expected to drop this month as the annual monsoon rains move north, but Mohapatra warned it could be worse.
“Heat waves will become more frequent, persistent and intense unless precautions or preventative measures are taken,” he said.
India is the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases, but aims to achieve a net-zero emissions economy by 2070 – 20 decades later than most Western industries.
It is still very dependent on coal to generate electricity.
“Human activity, population growth, industrialization and transportation mechanisms have led to increased concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and chlorocarbons,” said Mohapatra.
“We are endangering not only ourselves, but also future generations.”
Scientific studies show that climate change is causing heat waves to become longer, more frequent and more intense.
The latest heatwave saw temperatures in New Delhi match the capital’s previous record: 49.2C (120.5F) per hour in 2022.
The power grid roared with peak demand of 8,302 megawatts as people sought respite from the hot weather.
On May 29, an automated weather station in Mungeshpur, on the outskirts of Delhi, recorded 52.9C (127.2F), but the temperature was the result of a faulty sensor.
Elsewhere in Delhi, 17 other city stations reached a maximum of 49C (120.2F) on the day.
“We have formed a committee of experts who will monitor the readings for the next two days and find out if there is anything wrong with the sensors,” Mohapatra said.
When HPG raised concerns over the recording within hours, Mohapatra confirmed for the first time that the censors were at fault.
“We test the AWS (automated weather station) every six months.”
“But a bird or a monkey might disturb him.”
