NEW DELHI: India is getting too hot too early, raising the risk of fires, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned on Wednesday, as a heatwave gripped much of the country and a landfill site burned on the capital's outskirts.
"Temperatures are rising rapidly in the country, and rising much earlier than usual," Modi told heads of India's state governments in an online conference.
The extreme heat has swept across large areas of India and Pakistan this week and follows the hottest March since the India Meteorological Department (IMD) began keeping records 122 years ago.
More than a billion people are at risk of heat-related health impacts, scientists said. In the capital New Delhi, temperatures have soared past 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for several days and are forecast to linger around 44C until Sunday, with peak summer heat still to come before cooling monsoon rains arrive in June.
"We are seeing increasing incidents of fires in various places - in jungles, important buildings and in hospitals - in the past few days," Modi said.
He asked states to conduct fire-safety audits for hospitals. Dozens of people die every year in fires at Indian hospitals and factories, mainly due to illegal construction and lax safety standards.
Fires in Delhi's dump yards also contribute to the toxic air in the world's most polluted capital.
As Modi spoke, firefighters were struggling to extinguish a blaze at the Bhalswa landfill site, a hillock rising above the northwestern edge of the city. Fumes from the burning waste forced a nearby school to close on Tuesday.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
SWELTERING
Among the worst hit have been the typically humid eastern Indian states, which saw temperatures above 43C on Wednesday.
"Rarely it happens that nearly the whole country ... is reeling under (a) heatwave," said hydroclimatologist Arpita Mondal at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, on the coast of Maharashtra, where she said the heat was "unbearable". Mumbai temperatures hit 37C on Wednesday.
Climate change is "beyond doubt" a contributing factor to the weather extremes, Mondal said.
In February, a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned of India's vulnerabilities to extreme heat. For example, at 1.5C of warming above pre-industrial temperatures, the West Bengal capital of Kolkata could once a year see conditions match that of the 2015 heatwave, when temperatures hit 44C and thousands died across the country.
Mondal's research has found that urban pollution may also play a role, with black carbon and dust absorbing sunlight and leading to greater heating in India's cities.
While heat risks lives and livelihoods in India, the real danger comes when high temperatures mix with high humidity, making it difficult for people to cool down through sweating.
Such conditions are measured by "wet bulb temperatures" which record the reading of a thermometer wrapped in a wet cloth. High wet bulb temperatures are of particular concern in India, where most of the country's 1.4 billion people live in rural areas without access to air conditioners or cooling stations.
On Wednesday, cities in southern West Bengal and coastal Odisha saw wet bulb temperatures of around 29C. Humans can survive only a few hours outdoors if wet bulb temperatures exceed 35C.
The IMD warned that conditions were likely to get worse in the next four days.
Reuters
Thu Apr 28 2022
![As India swelters under extreme heat, Modi warns of fire risk As India swelters under extreme heat, Modi warns of fire risk](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-04/71651126797_INDIA.jpg)
A firefighter uses his mobile phone as he sits on top of a fire truck as smoke billows from burning garbage at the Bhalswa landfill site in New Delhi, India, April 27, 2022. - REUTERS
AWANI Borneo [16/07/2024] – SUKMA 2024 | Sentiasa berwaspada | Pintu sempadan
AWANI Borneo Selasa, 16 Julai 2024 bersama Fauzi Zin.
- SUKMA 2024 : Nasib acara takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini.
- Ribut petir diramal di Sabah, Bomba saran penduduk berhati-hati.
- Urusan imigresen di sempadan, Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan.
- SUKMA 2024 : Nasib acara takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini.
- Ribut petir diramal di Sabah, Bomba saran penduduk berhati-hati.
- Urusan imigresen di sempadan, Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan.
![Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51714453013_courtgavelmahkam.jpg)
Hukuman penjara bapa lakukan serangan seksual ke atas 3 anak perempuan dikurangkan
Dalam penghakimannya, Che Mohd Ruzima berkata perayu gagal membuktikan bahawa Mahkamah Sesyen terkhilaf dalam memutuskan kes itu.
Malaysia-Brunei adakan rundingan mudahkan urusan Imigresen
Malaysia dan Brunei akan mengadakan rundingan bagi memudahkan proses keluar masuk rakyat kedua-dua negara.
![Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124936_KimPanGon.jpg)
Pan-gon mahu kekal hubungan baik dengan Malaysia
Bekas ketua jurulatih Harimau Malaya Kim Pan-gon mahu mengekalkan hubungan baik dengan skuad itu biarpun tidak lagi bersama.
Kos pampasan tanah fasa 1B proses Projek LPB Sabah RM1.2 bilion - Alexander
Anggaran kos pengambilan balik tanah bagi keseluruhan Fasa 1B proses pengambilan tanah dan penilaian pampasan tanah bagi Projek Lebuh Raya Pan Borneo Sabah (LPB Sabah) berjumlah RM1.2 bilion.
Sentiasa berhati-hati, ribut petir diramal berlaku di Sabah
Orang ramai khususnya yang tinggal di kawasan berisiko di Sabah disaran agar bersiap siaga terutama dari segi perubahan cuaca yang tidak menentu yang seterusnya akan mengakibatkan bencana banjir dan pokok tumbang.
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita diketahui Khamis ini
Nasib acara sepak takraw wanita berpasukan dalam Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) edisi ke-21 di Sarawak akan ditentukan dalam Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa SUKMA Peringkat Kebangsaan pada Khamis ini.
JPBM Sabah serah jentera khas buat pasukan sukarela
Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) negeri Sabah sedang dalam perancangan untuk menyerahkan jentera khas, iaitu Volunter Fire Rescue Tender (VFRT) untuk Pasukan Bomba Sukarela (PBS) di Sabah.
Sarawak akan pertahan pingat sukan Muay Thai edisi lalu
Skuad Sarawak akan berusaha mempertahankan masing-masing dua emas, perak dan gangsa dalam kejohanan SUKMA yang dimenangi dalam edisi lalu.
![Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721124841_TBFAM.jpg)
Usaha pujuk Pan-gon tidak berhasil - Yusoff Mahadi
FAM pernah berusaha memujuk Kim Pan-gon untuk terus mengemudi skuad Harimau Malaya hingga kontraknya tamat secara rasmi pada akhir tahun depan.
![Perak, Kedah, Perlis dijangka negeri paling panas Perak, Kedah, Perlis dijangka negeri paling panas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-03/51552997658_minum.jpg)
Perak, Kedah, Perlis dijangka negeri paling panas
Malaysia tidak akan berdepan dengan cuaca panas melampau seperti yang pernah berlaku pada tahun 1998 dengan suhu yang tertinggi berada pada paras 40 Darjah Celsius.
![Hujan hanya tambah satu peratus air dalam empangan Melaka - Idris Hujan hanya tambah satu peratus air dalam empangan Melaka - Idris](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-05/51367839221_295x200.jpg)
Hujan hanya tambah satu peratus air dalam empangan Melaka - Idris
Pengepaman air dari Sungai Gerisik di Muar ke empangan Melaka akan diteruskan bagi menampung keperluan para penduduk.
![Jerebu: Pelabuhan Klang cecah tahap Sangat tidak sihat Jerebu: Pelabuhan Klang cecah tahap Sangat tidak sihat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-03/51394685077_295x200.jpg)
Jerebu: Pelabuhan Klang cecah tahap "Sangat tidak sihat"
Bacaan Indeks Pencemaran Udara (IPU) di kawasan Pelabuhan Klang berada di tahap 'Sangat tidak sihat' yang mencecah 229 pada jam 10 malam.
![Jerebu: Pelabuhan Klang cecah tahap berbahaya Jerebu: Pelabuhan Klang cecah tahap berbahaya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-03/41393839627_295x200.jpg)
Jerebu: Pelabuhan Klang cecah tahap "berbahaya"
Bacaan Indeks Pencemaran Udara (IPU) di kawasan Pelabuhan Klang berada di tahap berbahaya yang mencecah 317 pada jam 4 petang.
![SYABAS belum terima arahan laksana catuan peringkat ketiga SYABAS belum terima arahan laksana catuan peringkat ketiga](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-05/51368964475_295x200.jpg)
SYABAS belum terima arahan laksana catuan peringkat ketiga
Tiada sebarang perubahan akan dilakukan pada pelan catuan air peringkat kedua yang bermula Ahad lalu berikutan pengurangan pelepasan air mentah.
![Jerebu: Hanya Nilai dan Banting catat IPU tidak sihat Jerebu: Hanya Nilai dan Banting catat IPU tidak sihat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-03/41393895970_295x200.jpg)
Jerebu: Hanya Nilai dan Banting catat IPU tidak sihat
Hanya tinggal dua bandar sahaja yang mencatatkan bacaan IPU 'Tidak Sihat' iaitu Nilai dan Banting yang merekodkan bacaan 102.
![Jerebu: IPU tidak sihat di seluruh Selangor Jerebu: IPU tidak sihat di seluruh Selangor](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-03/41393895970_295x200.jpg)
Jerebu: IPU tidak sihat di seluruh Selangor
Setakat pukul 8 pagi ini, Pelabuhan Kelang merekodkan bacaan 132, diikuti Banting (133), Shah Alam (126), Petaling Jaya (127) dan Kuala Selangor (108).
![SYABAS: Senarai kawasan terbabit catuan air SYABAS: Senarai kawasan terbabit catuan air](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-02/51393334638_120x90.jpg)
SYABAS: Senarai kawasan terbabit catuan air
Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor menyenaraikan kawasan terbabit pelan catuan bekalan air di Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat dan Sepang bermula 27 Feb hingga 31 Mac ini.
![UNDIAN: Berapa jumlah air yang cukup? UNDIAN: Berapa jumlah air yang cukup?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-02/71393237417_120x90.jpg)
UNDIAN: Berapa jumlah air yang cukup?
Berapakah jumlah minima air untuk sehari yang anda perlukan pada waktu darurat? Berikan pendapat anda di dalam undian berikut.
![Pembenihan awan: Johor tunggu keputusan SPAN Pembenihan awan: Johor tunggu keputusan SPAN](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-02/51391651346_295x200.jpg)
Pembenihan awan: Johor tunggu keputusan SPAN
Keputusan permohonan daripada Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara (SPAN) itu dijangka akan diketahui minggu ini.