According to the weather department, the temperature in Februrary was recorded at the highest since 1901 and the temperature is expected to soar higher in March. This may have an adverse effect on the wheat crop which is otherwise at a vulnerable stage.
India saw a 55% increase in deaths due to extreme heat between 2000-2004 and 2017-2021, found the Lancet research. It has also estimated that the burning of fossil fuel has led to more than 3,30,000 deaths in India in 2021
Some 80% of the states are prone to heatwaves and most have plans ready to alter office and school timings as well as working hours for labourers to avoid the hottest time of day when necessary, a government official told Reuters on Friday.
March 2022 has made many records. For Delhi, it is the fourth warmest March in terms of average maximum temperature. Average maximum temperature was 32.6 degrees. In March 2021 it was 33.1 degrees, in 2004 it was 33.4 degrees and in 1953 average maximum temperature of Delhi was 34.4 degrees.