“Poor people have fewer resources to cool off as well as fewer options to stay away from the heat”
2022 is shaping up to be the one of the hottest years in human history, with record-breaking temperatures creating some of the most intense heat waves we have experienced. The national capital region recorded 42 degrees Celsius, on 14 May, 2022. The ongoing spell of heatwaves in Delhi and neighbouring states is likely to intensify in the coming days.
The statistics paint a grim picture with over 18,000 deaths caused by heatwaves, between 1971 to 2019, accounting for over 13 % of the total deaths recorded for all extreme weather events. A recent study, which found an increase in deadly Indian heat waves in recent years, highlights North-Western, Central, and further to south-central region of India as the new hotspots of intense heatwave events. Climate change will only exacerbate these warming trends, at rates faster than the global average.
While we celebrate our festivities in the shade of our homes, we urge you to spare a moment and lend your support to disadvantaged individuals and communities suffering from these rising temperatures across Delhi, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, and other affected states in India.
