NDMA prepares States to deal with Heat Wave 2017

• A national workshop on Preparation of Heat Wave Action Plan was recently organised in Hyderabad .
• Discussions were held with all stakeholders resolving to work towards mitigating the adverse impact of the imminent heat wave this year.
• The workshop was organised by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the Government of Telangana.

About heatwaves in India:

• A Heat Wave is a period of abnormally high temperatures, more than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the North-Western parts of India.
• Heat Waves typically occur between March and June, and in some rare cases even extend till July.
• The extreme temperatures and resultant atmospheric conditions adversely affect people living in these regions as they cause physiological stress, sometimes resulting in death.
• The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has given the following criteria for Heat Waves:
• Heat Wave need not be considered till maximum temperature of a station reaches atleast 40 degree Celcius for Plains and atleast 30 degree celcius for Hilly regions.
• When normal maximum temperature of a station is less than or equal to 40*C Heat Wave Departure from normal is 5*C to 6*C Severe Heat Wave Departure from normal is 7*C or more
• When normal maximum temperature of a station is more than 40*C Heat Wave Departure from normal is 4*C to 5*C Severe Heat Wave Departure from normal is 6*C or more
• When actual maximum temperature remains 45*C or more irrespective of normal maximum temperature, heat waves should be declared. Higher daily peak temperatures and longer, more intense heat waves are becomingly increasingly frequent globally due to climate change. India too is feeling the impact of climate change in terms of increased instances of heat waves which are more intense in nature with each passing year, and have a devastating impact on human health thereby increasing the number of heat wave casualties.

Possible health hazards

• Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are the two major risks posed by high-temperature conditions.
• Continuous and constant exposure to high temperatures could result in nausea and heat cramps, resulting in rapid rise of the body temperature.
• Dehydration (absence of adequate water within the body) could also aid in heat exhaustion. Headaches, dizziness and nausea are some of the symptoms.

By: Vishal