In pictures: India records ‘longest’ heatwave, Delhi faces water crisis

-


People filling water in plastic cans from a water supply tanker at Chanakyapuri, Delhi on June 12, 2024.

Hindustan Times | Hindustan Times | Getty Images

India’s capital Delhi is facing a severe water crisis as the country undergoes its “longest spell” of recorded heatwave.

According to India’s Meteorological Department, temperatures in some parts of the second-most populated city in India soared above 45 degrees Celsius to 47 degrees Celsius on Thursday, and is expected to hover around a similar range through the weekend.

“Heat wave to severe heat wave conditions [are] likely to continue over northern parts of India during next 4-5 days,” IMD said in a release.

The highest daily temperature in Delhi has consecutively surpassed 40°C since May 12, weather forecasting site AccuWeather showed.

“This has been the longest spell because it has been experienced for about 24 days in different parts of the country,” Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, head of the IMD, said in an interview with the Indian Express daily earlier this week. 

The South Asian nation often endures heatwaves and droughts as a result of global warming.

Delhi’s Water Minister Atishi warned Thursday the city is facing a water shortage of 50 million gallons daily due to a lack of raw water supply from the Yamuna river and other sources, the Economic Times reported.

Temperatures exceeded 52.9°C on May 29 in Mungeshpur, a village in the northwest part of Delhi, IMD said, adding it was an “outlier” as temperatures in other parts of Delhi ranged between 45.2°C to 49.1°C that day.

Local media reported that a 40-year-old factory worker died as a result of heat stroke.

Other parts of India were not spared, with temperatures in some cities touching 47.5°C on Thursday.

Multiple Indian media publications have also reported deaths of voters and poll personnel in May after standing in the scorching heat to cast their votes in the recent general election.

India’s health ministry advised residents to stay hydrated, avoid direct sun exposure and keep a look out for those who are sick or elderly.

Many countries in South and Southeast Asia have also faced a similar weather conditions, with temperatures in Bangladesh, Thailand, and Vietnam surpassing 40°C.

“Asia is heating up faster than the global average, with increased casualties and economic losses from floods, storms, and more severe heatwaves,” the World Meteorological Organization, the UN’s weather agency, warned in April.

India’s heatwave

A woman quenches her thirst with the tap water on a hot summer afternoon during heatwave in Uttar Pradesh, India on June 10, 2024.

Anil Shakya | Afp | Getty Images

Children bathing in a canal

Children bathing and getting relief from the extreme heat in the Bhool Garhi Canal on June in Ghaziabad, India, on June 12, 2024

Hindustan Times | Hindustan Times | Getty Images

Water tank at the Vivekanand slum

Residents of Vivekanand Camp filling water from a water tanker supply in New Delhi, India, on June 12, 2024.

Hindustan Times | Hindustan Times | Getty Images

Rushing to fill up water supplies

People filling water from a water supply in New Delhi, India, on June 8, 2024.

Hindustan Times | Hindustan Times | Getty Images

Boy pouring water over his head

A boy pours water on his face from a container in New Delhi, India, on May 22, 2024. 

Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images

Homeless people filling up plastic pots

Homeless people fill drinking water in plastic pots from a government tap in Gurugram, India, on June 12, 2024.

Hindustan Times | Hindustan Times | Getty Images

Women transporting water canisters

People are filling water from a supply water tanker during a heatwave in New Delhi, India, on June 3, 2024. 

Hindustan Times | Hindustan Times | Getty Images

Workers supplying ice blocks

Workers supply ice blocks during hot summer days at in Gurugram, India, on June 6, 2024.

Hindustan Times | Hindustan Times | Getty Images





Source link

Latest news

Researchers Propose a Better Way to Report Dangerous AI Flaws

In late 2023, a team of third party researchers discovered a troubling glitch in OpenAI’s widely used artificial...

The United States of Elon Musk Inc.

Where do Elon Musk’s business interests end and Donald Trump’s political interests begin? Trick question—they’re one and the...

All Stage unveils a powerhouse agenda for founders

Tech Zone Daily All Stage (formerly Early Stage) returns to Boston on July 15, and the agenda for...

Companies Might Soon Have to Tell You When Their Products Will Die

The proposed act would require companies to disclose a “reasonable” support timeframe on a product’s packaging and online...

(BPRW) FPL celebrates 100th anniversary by supersizing STEM Classroom Makeover Grants to 20 Florida schools | Tech Zone Daily

(BPRW) FPL celebrates 100th anniversary by supersizing STEM Classroom Makeover Grants to 20 Florida...

Omni raises $69M to design tools that help companies better analyze their data

Employees at many companies today are expected to make decisions through careful data analysis, but the tools they...

Must read

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you