Cold waves kill more Indians than heat waves, 60 dead in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: Since the winters have entered 2019, there are many who have lost their lives due to the bone chilling conditions. In 23 of the last 38 years (1980-2018), the human death toll in India due to cold waves was higher than that due to heat waves according to the data provided by the India Meteorological Department.

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In 1992, 41 times more lives were lost due to cold waves. Between 2010 and 2018. the trend was somewhat different. In this period, around 4,506 people died due to cold waves while 5,572 died due to heat waves. The notable exception was 2011. That year, human deaths due to cold waves were nearly 60 times more than those due to heat waves.

However, in 2018, the trend reversed again. About 136 people died due to cold waves in comparison to 16 deaths due to heat waves.

The other shocking statistic that emerged between 2010 and 2018 was a whopping 506 per cent increase in the number of cold waves in India, despite increasing temperatures worldwide due to global warming.

Severe cold days in the next days: IMD

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According to the IMD bulletin released on December 27, 2019, cold to severe cold day conditions are likely to remain over many areas of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, northern Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh during the next two days.

The maximum temperatures was markedly below normal (-5.1°C or less) at most places over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and gangetic West Bengal.

According to IMD, the maximum temperatures was appreciably below normal (-3.1°C to -5.0°C) at most places over Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh, at many places over Madhya Pradesh and at a few places over Gujarat too.

Along with severe cold days, some pockets in Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, north Rajasthan and Bihar may also experience cold to severe cold waves.

A cold day is defined on the basis of maximum day temperature while a cold wave is defined by looking at minimum temperatures recorded on two consecutive nights.

Wither planning?

The guidelines for Action Plan on Prevention and Management of Heat Wave prepared by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in 2016, were further revised in 2017. In fact, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare too had issued guidelines to deal with heat-related illness.

In 2019, the government had started working with 23 states and over 100 cities and districts to implement and develop heat action plans in India.

Ahead of the states being enveloped by the chilling conditions, District Magistrate's of several states such as Uttar Pradesh and Mathura have made arrangements for those living on streets.

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