Hit with the ongoing heatwave, India suffered with at least 130 deaths as temperature reached record breaking heights in several places. Central and peninsular India faces the hottest April in recent years, with the weather predicted to rise by one to two degrees, particularly in west India, Telangana and Rayalseema.
Over 100 people died in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and sunstroke claimed 30 lives in Odisha. Telangana remains the worst hit with the temperature touching 44° Celsius in three districts, a day after Hyderabad broke a 43-year record with the mercury rising to 43°C. The Met department said temperature could reach an all-time high figure of 45°C in April. Cuttack, Khuda, Balasore, and Jagatsinghpur are the worst sufferers in Odisha with mercury touching 42° for more than a week. In consequences of the harsh weather conditions, water levels in major reservoirs of the country are alarmingly low as cited by weekly data released by Central Water commission.
Ahmedabad was the hottest city in Gujarat, with a recorded temperature of 41.2°C. Director of Indian Meteorological Department, Ahmedabad, Jayanta Sarkar said that while the temperature had climbed over 40°C in many cities, it was not a cause of concern. “The rise in temperature is normal. From April 16, it will become cooler by a degree or two as a western disturbance is approaching.”
