Temperatures in several northern states are likely to surpass 47C over the next few days
A ‘red alert’ has been issued in several states in northern India for the next five days, as the country grapples with a heat wave amid polls to elect the next government.
Temperatures in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh regions are expected to soar above 47C (116F), according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Last month, several parts of the country experienced the hottest April on record, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people, according to a Reuters report. In eastern India, the average temperature was 28.12C, the warmest since records began in 1901.
The World Meteorological Organization warned last year that temperatures could be higher throughout the summer globally due to the El Nino phenomenon.
The heat wave in India has been cited by analysts as one of the reasons for low voter turnout in the first four phases of the seven-phase general election, which began on April 19. In a slight turnaround, however, voter turnout in the fifth phase of the election on Monday, held across 49 parliamentary constituencies, surpassed the polling figures recorded in the same constituencies in 2019.
#WATCH | Jaipur, Rajasthan: Amid the heatwave, water is being sprinkled on roads to get respite from the rising temperatures. pic.twitter.com/0Ltq23hlNS
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) May 20, 2024