INDIA The population is faced with an unprecedented heatwave and government negligence

May 2024 found people in India facing unprecedented heat-stroke killing over 165 people till June 1. May 31 was the hottest day in Delhi in 157 years.

Reports of deaths come every day from different parts of the country, mainly from Delhi and Northern India. 67 died of heat-stroke in Odissa and 9 in Bihar between May 24 and 30. West Bengal in the East and Bhandara (Maharashtra) in the West too have experienced heat wave involving several deaths.

Delhi saw its first heat casualty this season with the death of a factory worker (40) who was admitted with 107 degree F temperature and later put on ventilator. The national capital recorded a maximum temperature of 49.2 C. One weather station in Delhi recorded an all-time summer high of 52.9 C on May 29. Authorities rushed to claim that the recording of 52.9 C may be due to sensor error.

A huge section of people live on the roadsides in Delhi. Heat stroke affected them more than others. Many of the victims are engaged in outdoor work, such as agriculture, construction, mining, doing work as hawkers, in small shops, restaurants, loading and unloading in different markets. They work in sizzling heat, have no protection whatsoever. What is more, the poor in urban and rural areas lack proper housing.

Temperature above 27 degrees C seriously affect all people living in rural as well as urban areas particularly in hutments and shanty towns without fans and any other means of cooling devices. The true picture caused by the impact of heatwave in the heat belt area is not even possible to know. Only when deaths occur in hospitals, reports appear in newspapers.

Acknowledging the reality, on May 27 the government has come out with an advisory asking factory owners to provide clean water to workers and such and similar steps as precautionary measures to beat the heat wave. The government’s responsibility has ended with this circular.

Climate change is a reality with heatwaves, cloudbursts, floods and forest fires. Recently, even a place like Dubai was flooded and its airport was closed for a couple of days. Environmental tragedy in all its manifestations is a recurring experience in all parts of the world. Floods in the Himalayan region of India lead to landslides and deaths almost every year. Construction of roads and tunnels in the mountain region without proper planning with the sole idea to attract tourists act as death-knell for tourists as well as local residents.

India was in the midst of general elections in May and among those who died due to sun stroke included over two dozen staff involved in election duty. It is expected that the onset of monsoon in the coming days would provide marginal relief to people in Delhi and elsewhere.

N. Vasudevan, Mumbai, June 1st