Heatwave in India had most impact on water resources, health, farming: WMO chief

Heatwave in India had most impact on water resources, health, farming: WMO chief

The mortality and economic costs of heatwaves have remained widely under-reported,  Professor Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said recently.

“Water-related hazards are the main reported cause of human casualties and economic losses in Asia. However, mortality and the economic cost of heatwaves is widely under-reported,” said Saulo, in an email interview with The Indian Express.

This year, India has been experiencing unprecedented heatwave conditions which commenced as early as March, which even affected areas outside the core heatwave zone, like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh(12 days), Kerala (5 days). Citing this year's multi-hazard heatwave conditions over India, Saulo said, “ The recent heatwaves in India not only had a major impact on human health, but also on education, water resources, agriculture, energy and labour productivity.”

The data on the number of heatwave-affected days maintained by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), showed Odisha suffered the maximum heatwave days followed by Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Telangana and Tamil Nadu during March – June 9. The maximum temperatures recorded in many areas across northwest and northern India not only broke all previous records but saw newer localities reporting 50 degrees Celsius on multiple occasions.

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