The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for severe heatwave conditions in several northern and northwestern states, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana, until 28 May. The weather agency has also issued an orange alert for “very heavy rainfall” in three districts of Kerala: Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and Idukki.
The IMD has forecast a “severe heatwave” for Delhi, most parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh till 28 May. A red alert for “severe heatwave” has also been issued for west Uttar Pradesh from 26 to 28 May. Isolated pockets of west Madhya Pradesh are likely to witness a “severe heatwave” until 26 May and a severe heatwave has been forecast for Gujarat today.
The IMD’s heatwave prediction for the national capital on May 25 coincides with Phase 6 of the Lok Sabha elections, during which all seven parliamentary seats of Delhi will be contested. Delhi is expected to experience a maximum temperature of 44 degrees Celsius on Saturday.
Five deaths due to suspected heat stroke have been reported in Rajasthan on Thursday. An official told news agency PTI that five peacocks were also found dead in Khairthal district.
IMD scientist Naresh Kumar told PTI that a red alert had been issued in Rajasthan and Haryana, and an orange alert had been issued in Punjab. “The temperature has slightly reduced in the last two days in NCR-Delhi. However, we predict that the temperature will still be around 43 to 44 degrees Celsius. People should take precautions for this,” he said.
The Met Department said that a cyclonic circulation over south Kerala would likely cause isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over Kerala and Mahe on May 24. An orange alert has been issued.
Heavy rain in Kerala has caused water logging in several areas, while vehicles were also reportedly damaged after a tree was uprooted in the Saint Thomas Road area of Thrissur.
Revenue Minister K Rajan stated that parts of Kerala received over 20 cm of rain in the last 24 hours. He also mentioned that 11 people lost their lives in the state due to recent rain-related incidents.
“Six lost their lives in various drowning incidents, two fell into water-filled quarries, two were struck by lightning and one person lost his life in a wall collapse,” he said.
Kerala is also likely to witness rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph over the next two days. Lakshadweep, Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Rayalaseema, and Telangana are also likely to receive light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.
The weather agency has also forecast light to moderate rainfall over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the next seven days, with isolated heavy rainfall very likely from 23 to 25 May. Isolated light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds have been predicted over Konkan, Goa, and Vidarbha from 24 to 26 May. Marathawada, Madhya Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh will likely witness light to moderate rainfall today.
