PM Modi reviews heatwave preparedness, Met office warns of a second bout from May 7

A fresh spell of heatwave is likely to begin over northwest India from May 7 and over central India from May 8, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.

Heatwave conditions are predicted over Rajasthan on May 7 to May 9, and over south Haryana, Delhi, southwest Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha region of Maharashtra on May 8 and May 9, it said.

With scanty rains owing to feeble western disturbances, northwest and central India experienced the hottest April in 122 years with average maximum temperature touching 35.9 degrees Celsius and 37.78 degrees Celsius, respectively.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired an important meeting to review preparations for heatwave management and monsoon preparedness in which he stressed on the need to take all measures to avoid deaths due to heatwave or fire incidents.

During the meeting, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) briefed about the persistence of high temperatures in March-May 2022 across the country, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

Prime Minister Modi observed that "we need to take all measures" to avoid deaths due to heatwave or fire incidents, according to the statement.

He also added that the response time towards any such incidents should be minimal.

Modi stressed that in view of rising temperatures, regular hospital fire safety audits need to be done.

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The prime minister also spoke about the need to work to substantially reduce the vulnerability of forests across the diverse forest ecosystems in the country against fire hazards, enhance the capabilities of forest personnel and institutions for timely detection of a possible fire and for fighting fires, and to speed up recovery after a fire event, according to the statement.

Modi directed that in view of upcoming monsoon, arrangements for monitoring the quality of drinking water need to be ensured to avoid contamination and resultant spread of water-borne diseases, it said.

The PMO said that the need for effective coordination between central and state agencies to ensure preparedness of all systems for any incidents in the wake of heatwave and upcoming monsoon was also discussed in the meeting.

States and UTs have been advised to prepare 'Heat Action Plans' as a standard response at the state, district and city levels, it said.

Regarding southwest monsoon preparedness, all states have been advised to prepare 'flood preparedness plans' and undertake appropriate preparedness measures, the PMO said.

NDRF has been advised to develop its deployment plan in flood-affected states, it said, adding that active use of social media for sensitisation of communities has to be widely adopted.

The meeting was attended by the principal secretary to the prime minister, advisors to PM, cabinet secretary, secretaries in the ministries of home, health, Jal Shakti, member NDMA, DGs of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and DG NDRF.

The crucial meeting was held hours after Prime Minister Modi returned from his three-day visit to Germany, Denmark and France.

After returning from his tour of the three European nations, he also chaired a meeting to review various aspects of wheat supply, stock and exports, and directed officials to take all steps to ensure quality norms and standards so that India evolves into an assured source of food grain and other agricultural products.