May records 125% jump in heatwave days, says IMD; casualties too surge

HEATWAVE days across the country rose by 125% in May, a record jump, compared to the normal, impacting a billion people, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

-  JITENDRA CHOUBEY

Exposure to a longer duration of heatwave caused a number of heat-related deaths.

IMD recorded 206 days of heatwave against the normal 92 days in 36 sub-divisions of the country. However, Kerala, coastal Karnataka, Konkan and the north-eastern region have reported no heatwave days. April saw 118 heatwave days against the normal 71, a 66% increase.