IMD forecast warns of heat wave days

   Hyderabad: The Director, India Meteorological Department (IMD), YK Reddy emphasised that climate change is resulting in severe heat waves in the last four years and there is about 1.5 degree Celsius change in temperatures in Telangana State. As a result, more heat waves, also called ‘silent killers’ are being witnessed in the State. This needs immediate measures to mitigate the heat risk and its associated deaths. He was speaking at a one-day conference on ‘Extreme Weather Events with reference to heat wave over Telangana’ here on Wednesday.
 
Further, he indicated the probability of above-normal summer temperatures this year in the State. IMD forecasts the temperatures in Telangana are set to cross 40 degrees, and some 15 to 20 heatwave days are expected in this summer.
 
The Telangana State Development Planning Society (TSDPS) in collaboration with Telangana State Disaster Management, IMD, UNICEF Hyderabad and Indian Meteorological Society organised the workshop.
On analysis of the data from 2008 to 2018, the highest of 46 heatwave days in Telangana was recorded in 2010, followed by 33 heatwave days in 2009. In 2018, seven heatwave days were recorded. The highest-ever temperature recorded in Telangana was in Bhadrachalam, which was 48.6 degrees in May 1973.

The CEO, TSDPS, in the presentation has elaborately mentioned that TSDPS has installed ‘Led Display Boards’, in all District Headquarters and GHMC area through which public/officials can be alerted.