PM Modi to chair key meeting on heatwave, monsoon preparedness

Tags: National News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair an important review meeting today on the preparedness to deal with heat waves affecting many parts of the country.

• The meeting will also review  the preparedness related to the upcoming monsoon season.

• According to the report of India Meteorological Department (IMD), there is a heat wave-like situation across the country.

• As per IMD report, 16 of the 36 of the meteorological subdivisions in India are facing heat wave-like conditions.

• About Heat wave

• A heat wave is a period of abnormally high temperature, higher than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the northwestern parts of India.

• Heat waves usually occur between March and June, and in some rare cases extend up to July.

• The extreme temperatures and atmospheric conditions adversely affect the people living in these areas as they cause physical stress, sometimes resulting in death.

• Criterion for declaring Heat waves

• If the maximum temperature of a meteorological station reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius or more for Plains and at least 30 degrees Celsius or more for Hilly regions.

• Heat waves have put enormous pressure on health and emergency services.

• It increases strain on water, energy and transportation resulting in power shortages.

• This adversely affects agriculture mainly in terms of production of Rabi crops causing stress among farmers.