New Delhi: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that heat waves are likely in many parts of the country during the upcoming hot weather season (April to June), a PIB press release stated. According to the IMD, the heat wave is expected to affect the country’s southern and western parts.
The transition from El Niño to ENSO-neutral is likely to take place by April-June 2024. La Niña is expected to occur in June-August.
The IMD said that it is expecting normal to above-normal rainfall over most parts of northwest India and central India. It is likely that there will be normal to above-normal rainfall over many parts of southern and western India, adding that the prolonged exposure to extreme heat can lead to dehydration and strain the infrastructure of the power grid and transportation system.
It urged authorities to take proactive measures to mitigate the effects of the heat wave. The IMD said that the state government and other organisations should take steps to ensure the availability of cooling centres to the vulnerable and that it was also necessary to issue heat advisories and implement strategies to alleviate the effects of heatwaves in affected areas.
The IMD said that the ministries of Health, Water, Agriculture, Railways, and the civil society are working together to prepare for the upcoming heat wave.
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