PM Modi reviews readiness to tackle heat wave as India braces for sweltering months
A review of preparations for the impending heat wave season was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. This came days after India’s weather forecasting agency issued a warning about more than twice the normal number of heatwave days between April and June.
The Prime Minister’s Office stated that, considering the likelihood of above-normal maximum temperatures, particularly in Central and Western Peninsular India, Prime Minister Modi was briefed on the temperature forecasts for the April to June period during the meeting.
Plans for the health sector were also discussed, including how to minimize the effects of the heatwave by having enough drinking water, IV fluids, and necessary medications available.
A statement from PM Modi stressed the need for coordination between various ministries and the federal, state, and local governments, as well as the importance of a unified, whole-of-government strategy.
It continued, “He also emphasized raising awareness and providing hospitals with proper preparation. He also emphasized the importance of promptly detecting and extinguishing forest fires.”
The home secretary, representatives from the National Disaster Management Authority and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as well as the prime minister’s principal secretary attended the meeting.
Heat wave forecast
Tens of thousands of people are expected to turn out for political rallies and line up at polling places as the nation gets ready for the Lok Sabha elections, which are widely regarded as the largest democratic exercise in history.
The seven-phase polls begin on April 19 and end on June 1.
“During the next three months, there are forecasts for extremely high temperatures. State governments and other interested parties have undertaken extensive preparations. Extreme heat waves have claimed a great deal of life in the past. Our degree of readiness has really improved. During IMD’s seasonal temperature projection briefing earlier this month, Union minister for earth sciences Kiren Rijiju stated, “We came out with a national disaster management plan.”
The IMD stated in its outlook that the states most vulnerable to heat waves are Gujarat, Madhya Maharashtra, north Karnataka, north Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.