Heatwave Latest News: On one hand, people of Delhi-NCR are suffering from severe heat and heatwave, on the other hand, the weather in South India, especially in Bengaluru, is cool due to the rain. Amidst all this, a study by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE) has revealed a very interesting thing.
The study says that Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad are experiencing heat waves due to a steady increase in humidity over the past two decades. The study attributes this to the “urban heat island” effect, where built-up areas reduce green cover, create congestion, absorb heat and generate additional heat from human activities. All these factors make city centres hotter, especially at night. Excessive heat and humidity affect the body’s cooling mechanisms, causing people to get sick. Rising temperatures and humidity together increase the heat index, which is a cause of discomfort.
Heat increased in most metros
Longer heatwaves this summer have added to the problem. In April, Odisha recorded 18 heatwave cases and West Bengal recorded 16 in a single day. According to the India Meteorological Department, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi are facing the most heat at the moment and there is no hope of relief for at least three days. The study found a 5-10% increase in average summer humidity in most metros over the last decade, with Hyderabad reporting the highest increase of 10%. Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai saw an increase of 8%, 7% and 5% respectively. Bengaluru, however, was an exception.
Why is fire raining in Delhi?
Studies and other analysis show that Delhi’s extreme heat is directly linked to the increase in built-up areas. As the city has expanded, with built-up areas increasing from 31.4% in 2003 to 38.2% in 2022, urban heat stress has increased. While more green cover helps reduce daytime temperatures, it does not affect nighttime temperatures or the rising heat index. This leads to the city becoming hotter, especially at night.
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