Record-Breaking temperatures in southern India and Bangladesh have resulted in tragic fatalities and widespread disruptions. In the Indian state of Kerala, a severe heatwave has claimed the lives of a 90-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man on Sunday, with temperatures soaring to 41.9 degrees Celsius—nearly 5.5 degrees above normal.
State disaster management official Shekhar Kuriakose confirmed that investigations into the causes of these deaths are ongoing in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. Scientists warn that climate change is intensifying the frequency, severity, and duration of heatwaves, making such extreme weather events more common.
Kerala authorities have issued warnings for residents to take precautions against the intense heat, urging people to stay indoors and stay hydrated. In response, Tamil Nadu's local leaders are actively distributing fresh fruit, coconuts, and cold drinks in Chennai to help citizens keep cool during the scorching days.
The Indian weather department has predicted an increase in heatwave days between April and June, the period typically followed by the monsoon season when temperatures normally decrease.
In the eastern state of Odisha, temperatures reached a blistering 44.9 degrees Celsius on Sunday, marking the highest temperature recorded in April. Odisha's public health director, Niranjan Mishra, reported that at least two individuals have died from sunstroke this summer.
Bangladesh is also grappling with the heatwave, with authorities closing all primary schools and educational institutions in nearly half of the districts, including the capital Dhaka, as temperatures climb above 43 degrees Celsius. For those who must work outdoors, such as rickshaw driver Mohammed Shameem in Dhaka, enduring the brutal heat leaves little choice but to continue working despite the health risks.
\"It is too hard to work under the sun during a brutal heat wave. There are not many people who are coming out, which means getting passengers is tough. But we have no option but to come out and work,\" Shameem shared.
The ongoing heatwave across southern India and Bangladesh highlights the urgent need for climate action and adaptive strategies to protect vulnerable populations from the escalating dangers of extreme weather.
Reference(s):
Two people die in southern India as heat wave scorches region
cgtn.com
