(Image source from: News18.com)

As summer begins, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that the country will experience extreme heat from April to June, and the central and western parts will be at the highest risk. "Temperatures are likely to be very high in many parts of the country, especially in India and the Mid-West," said IMD chief meteorologist Mrutyunjay Mohapatra. "Days are likely to be warmer than normal in areas of the valley. 10 to 20 days of hot weather are expected compared to 4 to 8 days of hot weather in some areas," he said. The regions most affected by heat are Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and North Karnataka, followed by Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, Rwanda and Andhra Pradesh. He also added that below normal temperatures may be experienced in parts of the Western Himalayan region, Northeastern Province and Northern Rwanda.

Mohapatra said the El Niño pattern, the seasonal warming of the Pacific Ocean in mid-, will continue into April and May, although it will abate. "This is consistent with forecasts of high temperatures and temperatures in India," she said. El Nino weather conditions led to higher temperatures and extreme temperatures around the world; 2023 was the hottest year. El Nino is associated with unusual temperatures and temperatures in East Asia. He said the heat wave coincided with the seven-phase general elections in India, which will start on April 9. Overexposure may lead to more heat-related health problems among voters and poll workers. Last week, amid concerns about extreme weather conditions during the surveys, the ECI had issued advice on how to prevent heatstroke.