Bathinda: A searing heatwave is set to sweep across northwest India this week, with temperatures forecast to jump as much as 4°C, potentially endangering thousands of farmers currently camped in open-air grain markets.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning Monday that maximum temperatures — already hovering between 37°C and 40°C — will continue their “gradual rise” through April 24, creating hazardous conditions for the peak wheat procurement season. Meteorologists report that maximum temperatures have already surged to “appreciably above normal” levels (3.1°C to 5°C) in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.The IMD says heatwave conditions are expected to hit Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh from April 21 to 24. While night temperatures have remained near normal — with a low of 16.5°C recorded in Gurdaspur — isolated parts of Haryana are braced for “warm night conditions” starting from Tuesday. Several regions have already breached the 40°C mark, a high figure for mid-April.Temperatures across the wheat belt in Punjab and Haryana remained more than 3°C above seasonal averages as of Monday evening. While Haryana saw a marginal dip of 0.9°C in its average maximum temperature compared to Sunday, the state remains scorched. Narnaul recorded the region’s peak temperature at 42°C.In Punjab, the heat intensified slightly with a 0.1°C rise in the state average. Bathinda emerged as the state’s hot spot, recording a maximum of 41°C. Despite the minor fluctuations, both states report conditions roughly 3.2°C above the normal range, sustaining pressure on the region’s power grid and agricultural workforce. Crisis at the Grain MarketsThe timing of the heat spike has raised alarms for the agricultural sector. Thousands of farmers are camping in “mandis” (purchase centres) across the region, waiting for govt agencies to procure their wheat harvest. Farmers at several sites have alleged a lack of basic infrastructure to combat the heat, citing water scarcity (reports of inadequate drinking water supplies at numerous grain markets), prolonged exposure (the procurement process often requires farmers to remain outdoors for several days), and health risks (the combination of physical labour and rising mercury is heightening the risk of heatstroke among the rural workforce).Regional ImpactThe heatwave is not limited to the plains; even the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh is recording temperatures significantly above seasonal averages. However, the most acute impact is expected in the “breadbasket” states of Punjab and Haryana, where the agricultural cycle is at its most vulnerable stage. Authorities are being urged to bolster arrangements at procurement centres as the region prepares for four days of intense thermal stress. MSID:: 130390403 413 |
