Relief in Sight: Western Disturbance Mitigates North India's Heatwave

The intense heatwave in north India since June 7 has subsided due to a western disturbance, though heat-related fatalities continue. The India Meteorological Department predicts no imminent heatwave across most parts of the country. Monsoon is expected to alleviate the situation by covering central and northwest India soon.

In a significant respite from a relentless heatwave that began on June 7, north India experienced a decrease in temperatures attributed to a western disturbance affecting the region. However, hospitals continue to report fatalities related to the extreme heat over the past days.

The India Meteorological Department provided hopeful news, forecasting that no heatwave is expected over most parts of the country in the upcoming days. Furthermore, the monsoon is anticipated to blanket central India and the majority of northwest India between June 27 and July 3. The primary rain system stalled between June 13 and 19, prolonging the wait for a much-needed downpour in parched north India.

On Thursday, several areas, including west Rajasthan, south Uttar Pradesh, and north Madhya Pradesh, saw maximum temperatures ranging from 40 to 42 degrees Celsius. The extreme heat also hit isolated pockets in Haryana, Delhi, East Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

According to weather bureau updates, the heatwave has lifted from regions including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, North Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. A combination of a Western Disturbance and easterly winds from the Bay of Bengal triggered scattered to widespread rainfall across Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and north Haryana, bringing much-needed relief.

The long, grueling heatwave resulted in numerous heat stroke cases, causing the Centre to advise hospitals to set up special units. Power grids and water supplies in areas like Delhi and Haryana struggled under the pressure. Health Ministry sources revealed the toll of the heatwave, with at least 114 heat-related deaths and over 40,984 suspected heatstroke cases reported from March 1 to June 18. Uttar Pradesh was the hardest hit, with 37 deaths.

Union Health Minister J P Nadda directed officials to regularly check for specialized arrangements for heatwave patients in hospitals. Hospitals in Delhi reported 22 suspected heat-related deaths since Wednesday morning.

With Delhi witnessing overnight rain and partly cloudy weather on Thursday, residents experienced much-needed relief from the oppressive heat, which saw minimum temperatures peak at 35.2 degrees Celsius—the highest recorded in June since 1969.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)