An evaluation by the Pune-based Prayas Vitality Group of adjusting summer time climate patterns signifies a rising pattern in warmth ranges throughout the Konkan and Western Maharashtra areas— areas that haven’t historically been the point of interest of warmth stress discussions in Maharashtra.
“The growing nighttime warmth publicity throughout the state is especially regarding, as it will possibly exacerbate well being dangers, particularly when coupled with extended intervals of consecutive scorching days and nights,” says Aditya Chunekar, a fellow with the Prayas Vitality Group, a non-profit that has been energetic in furthering public curiosity within the power sector by analysis-based coverage and regulatory engagement.
Chunekar and different researchers on the Prayas Vitality Group level out that to reinforce preparedness, a regionally validated warmth index is critical for early warning techniques. “Moreover, the IMD ought to make high-resolution climate knowledge publicly accessible in real-time, enabling extra correct evaluation and efficient warmth adaptation methods,” Chunekar stated.
As per knowledge from the Built-in Well being Data Platform, from March 1-31 this 12 months, Maharashtra recorded a complete of 28 heatstroke instances. 4 every are from Gadchiroli and Parbhani, three from Nagpur and Buldhana whereas two every are from Wardha, Nanded, Nashik, Palghar and Latur whereas Sangli, Thane, Raigad and Osmanabad districts reported one case every.
State well being division officers have arrange particular emergency therapy models at main well being centres and different well being establishments as, in response to the specialists, this 12 months is shaping as much as be one other record-breaking summer time.
The India Meteorological Division (IMD) issued its first heatwave warning for Mumbai and Konkan as early as February.
Excessive warmth poses severe dangers to public well being, livelihoods, and electrical energy demand. “Whereas authorities companies are implementing focused interventions, a complete understanding of native climate patterns is crucial to creating these efforts efficient,” researchers on the Prayas Vitality Group stated.
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“One method to assess warmth publicity is thru a warmth index. Summer season warmth is commonly linked to temperature alone, however components like humidity, photo voltaic radiation, wind velocity and a person’s capability to adapt play a crucial position. Globally, varied warmth stress indices estimate ‘feels-like’ temperatures, however none have been examined in India. One of many key necessities for creating a dependable native warmth index is the provision of extremely localised, high-resolution climate knowledge,” Chunekar stated.
The IMD at the moment operates round 60 climate stations in Maharashtra, together with extra automated climate stations. Increasing this community and making certain public entry to real-time or close to real-time knowledge would considerably enhance warmth stress monitoring and improve early warning techniques, specialists stated.
Within the absence of a regionally examined warmth index, researchers used the Common Thermal Local weather Index (UTCI) to analyse Maharashtra’s summer time climate patterns in 2024, the most popular 12 months recorded to this point globally.
“Our findings present that Vidarbha and Marathwada had been underneath average to extreme warmth stress as indicated by the utmost UTCI values for many of the summer time final 12 months. Nonetheless, essentially the most vital deviations from long-term tendencies are in Konkan and Western Maharashtra — areas not historically related to excessive warmth. That is crucial, as individuals’s capability to adapt is determined by their historic publicity to warmth,” Chunekar stated.
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Nighttime warmth stress has additionally intensified throughout Maharashtra. Minimal UTCI values in all districts exceeded their 30-year averages, stopping satisfactory nighttime cooling. With out this reduction, the physique can not recuperate from daytime warmth, resulting in long-term stress. Including to the priority, many elements of Maharashtra endured extended warmth stress, with practically 15 consecutive scorching days in late April final 12 months. In Konkan, excessive situations persevered for 7–10 consecutive days and nights, considerably straining the physique’s capability to adapt.
