“For the month of April 2024, maximum temperatures above normal are likely over most parts of the country,” the IMD said in a press release.
Union Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju urged stakeholders to take precautionary measures in advance due to the coincidence of dates of extreme weather and Lok Sabha elections.
“This is going to be a very difficult challenge for all of us. Because we are the most populous country in the world and we are facing extreme weather conditions, it is absolutely necessary for India to prepare in advance,” the minister said at a press conference.
“We are expected to experience extreme weather conditions over the next two and a half months. This also coincides with the general elections in which around one billion people are expected to exercise their right to vote,” he added.
The majority of the country is expected to experience above-normal maximum temperatures between April and June, with high risk over India's central and western peninsulas, according to IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
“Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha are expected to experience heatwaves in April, May and June. “Heat waves usually persist for 8 to 10 days, but this time it is expected to last longer than normal,” Mohapatra said.
“During the hot season from April to June, above-normal heatwave days are likely to occur in most parts of Southern Peninsula, Central India, Eastern India and plains of northwest India,” the IMD press release said.
According to the press release, above-normal heatwave days are likely in many areas of the southern peninsula and adjacent areas of northwest central India and parts of eastern India. India and the plains of northwest India.
The Lok Sabha elections in India will be held in seven phases between April 19 and June 1.
(With contribution from agencies)
