Record Temperatures, Deadly Consequences
Northern India is enduring record-breaking heat, a trend that is predicted to occur 45 times more frequently due to climate change. India, accustomed to scorching summer temperatures, is now grappling with increasingly deadly heatwaves.
Delhi recorded temperatures near 50 degrees Celsius in May as a heatwave swept across northern Indian states. Experts warn that summer temperatures in India will continue to rise.
The current heatwave has reportedly claimed the lives of 61 people, including 33 election workers and a voter in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India's most populous state, and eight election officials in neighboring Bihar.
Heatwaves to Become 45 Times More Likely
On June 1, the final day of a state election, the India Meteorological Department issued an "orange" warning, advising people to "be prepared." The scorching heat impacted voter turnout, reducing it to 61.63%, a 3.5% decrease from 2019.
Alarmingly, a recent World Weather Attribution (WWA) report released last month predicts that similar heatwaves are likely to occur 45 times more frequently (compared to the pre-industrial era) in the coming years. This increase is attributed to human-induced climate change.
Dr. D. Himanshu of King George's Medical University in Lucknow explains that the body's thermoregulatory "sensors" – responsible for controlling body temperature by inducing sweating – stop functioning when temperatures exceed 47 or 48 degrees Celsius. Body temperature then continues to rise unchecked.
"If a person doesn't consume sufficient water, sweating stops and the condition worsens. When body temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius, the patient may develop heat stroke. This fever is caused by a malfunction of the thermoregulatory system rather than the immune system, rendering common fever-reducing medications like acetaminophen ineffective," Dr. Himanshu added.
"It was unbearable with just a ceiling fan. Managing large crowds and ensuring fair voting practices was challenging. After working over 16 hours for two consecutive days, I developed a high fever due to the heat," recounted Renuka Keshwan, a government school teacher who worked at a polling station on May 20 in Lucknow during the fifth phase of the state election.
School Closures
The WWA report indicates that while climate change made India's April heatwave 45 times more probable, neighboring countries, particularly in South, West, and Southeast Asia, could face even harsher conditions in the future.
"In the current climate, warmed by 1.2°C since the pre-industrial period due to human activities, such extreme heat events are no longer rare," the report states.
Bangladesh and Pakistan have experienced debilitating heatwaves, leading to school closures and widening the educational gap. India currently has a secondary school dropout rate of 12.6%, which is likely to increase with rising temperatures.
"Extreme heat has forced thousands of schools to close across South and Southeast Asia. These regions have also experienced school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing the educational gap faced by children from poorer households and increasing the risk of dropouts and negatively impacting human capital development," the report states.
West Asia and the Philippines could also experience once-in-a-decade heatwaves under El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions, the report adds. The increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves is largely attributed to human-caused climate change.
The report warns of adverse impacts on informal sector workers such as vegetable vendors, agricultural laborers, construction workers, drivers, and fishermen.