IMD Issues Severe Heatwave Alert as Temperatures Soar

West Bengal among key states on alert as rising temperatures disrupt schools, health services, and daily life

Kolkata, April 25:

India’s summer has turned dangerous earlier than expected.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued fresh severe heatwave warnings across several states as temperatures continue to climb rapidly, crossing 44°C in multiple districts and pushing public health systems under visible pressure.

West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and parts of Delhi are among the regions under active monitoring, with weather officials warning that the next few days could become even more intense.

For eastern India, the concern is not just temperature—it is humidity.

In coastal and industrial regions like Haldia, where high moisture levels combine with rising daytime heat, the “feels like” temperature often becomes far more dangerous than the official reading.

“This is the kind of heat people underestimate,” said a senior weather official in Kolkata. “Even if the number looks manageable, humidity changes the body’s response completely.”

In several districts, maximum temperatures have already crossed 42°C to 44°C, while night temperatures are also staying unusually high, reducing the body’s ability to recover from daytime exposure.

The IMD has advised people to avoid direct sunlight between noon and 4 pm, stay hydrated, wear light cotton clothing, and watch for signs of heat exhaustion, especially among children and elderly citizens.

Hospitals are beginning to feel the pressure.

Government health officials in multiple states reported a rise in patients complaining of dehydration, dizziness, headaches, and heat exhaustion symptoms. Outdoor workers, traffic police, construction labourers, and street vendors remain among the most vulnerable groups.

Doctors say the early warning signs are often ignored.

“People wait too long before seeking help,” said Dr. Anindita Roy, a physician at a government hospital in Kolkata. “By the time they come in, blood pressure is unstable, dehydration is severe, and sometimes kidney complications begin.”

Schools are also adjusting.

Several districts in eastern India have either revised school timings or issued advisories asking institutions to reduce afternoon outdoor activities. Parents have raised concerns over long commutes for children during peak heat hours.

In West Bengal, education officials are closely monitoring district-level conditions, especially in areas where school infrastructure lacks proper cooling or ventilation.

Farmers are watching the skies with equal anxiety.

Heatwaves in April can damage standing crops, increase irrigation pressure, and affect fishery output—an issue particularly relevant for Haldia and coastal Bengal where fisheries support thousands of livelihoods.

Agricultural experts warn that prolonged high temperatures could impact paddy preparation cycles and increase electricity demand for irrigation pumps.

“This is not just a weather story,” said an agricultural economist in East Midnapore. “It directly affects income, food prices, and household stability.”

Power consumption is rising sharply as well.

With fans, coolers, pumps, and air conditioners running for longer hours, several states are reporting increased electricity demand. Local outages, especially in semi-urban and rural belts, are adding to public frustration.

Residents across Bengal have taken to social media complaining about low-voltage supply during peak afternoon hours, especially when humidity remains high even after sunset.

Climate experts say this pattern is no longer unusual.

Heatwaves are arriving earlier, lasting longer, and becoming more intense due to broader climate shifts. What was once considered an extreme weather event is increasingly becoming a seasonal norm.

Scientists have repeatedly warned that urban heat islands, shrinking green cover, construction-heavy development, and poor water management are making Indian cities hotter year after year.

Kolkata, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and several industrial zones have shown strong evidence of this effect.

In Haldia, port activity, industrial emissions, and limited urban cooling spaces create an added environmental burden during summer months.

The concern is especially serious for low-income families.

While middle-class households may rely on cooling appliances and indoor work environments, daily wage workers often spend entire afternoons outdoors with limited access to clean drinking water or shaded rest areas.

This makes heatwaves both an environmental and inequality issue.

Public health activists have urged local administrations to increase temporary water booths, shaded public waiting zones, and heat shelters for vulnerable communities.

Some municipalities have already begun installing emergency drinking water points near bus stands and market zones.

The IMD says relief may not come immediately.

While isolated thunderstorms are possible in some districts, widespread temperature relief is unlikely over the next several days. Officials have warned that dry winds and strong sunlight may push conditions from “heatwave” to “severe heatwave” status in additional areas.

That distinction matters because severe heatwaves significantly raise mortality risk.

For ordinary people, however, the science becomes simple.

Avoid the sun. Drink more water. Check on older relatives. Do not ignore dizziness.

Summer in India has always been intense.

But when April begins to feel like peak May, the warning is larger than one season.

It is a reminder that climate change is no longer a future debate.

It is already standing outside, in the afternoon heat.