New Delhi, March 31 — India is set for a hotter-than-usual summer with an increase in heatwave days across central, eastern, and northwestern plains from April to June, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.
IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, in an online press conference, warned that most regions will experience higher-than-normal maximum and minimum temperatures, except for parts of western and eastern India where temperatures are expected to remain normal.
“From April to June, north and east India, central India, and the plains of northwest India are likely to witness two to four more heatwave days than normal,” Mohapatra said. India typically records four to seven heatwave days during this period.
States expected to see above-normal heatwave days include Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and northern parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Experts have warned that the prolonged heatwave spell could drive a 9–10% rise in peak electricity demand this summer. Last year, India’s power demand crossed 250 gigawatts on May 30 — 6.3% higher than projections.
