Punjab Faces Prolonged Severe Heatwave, IMD Extends Red Alert

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has extended its severe heatwave warning for Punjab until May 25, as scorching temperatures persist across the state. AK Singh, director of IMD Chandigarh, noted that Punjab typically experiences severe heatwave conditions for only a few days, but this year, the extreme heat has been prevalent since May 16.

Bathinda recorded the highest temperature in the state on Tuesday, reaching a blistering 46.6 degrees Celsius. Despite a slight drop in the average maximum temperature due to strong winds, IMD officials anticipate a further increase in temperatures in the coming days.

The rise in temperature has also led to a surge in cases of diarrhoea and vomiting across Punjab. Dr. Sumeet Singh, nodal officer of the climate change and environment programme, explained that heat exhaustion can cause vomiting, while higher temperatures accelerate the growth of bacteria responsible for infective diarrhoea, leading to an increase in cases.

Severe heatwave conditions are expected to spread from the western Malwa region to the Majha region, particularly affecting areas like Amritsar and Tarn Taran, starting from May 23. As Punjab grapples with this prolonged heatwave, residents are urged to take precautions to prevent heat-related illnesses.