Several cities in Northeast India, including Guwahati, have experienced a significant rise in temperature in the past three days, possibly due to a heatwave sweeping across the country, which has already affected neighboring states like West Bengal.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Guwahati recorded a temperature of 37.7°C on April 17, which is 6.5 degrees higher than the normal temperature at this time of the year. The minimum temperature was also above normal by 1.5 degrees, standing at 22°C. The IMD report predicted light rain in some isolated parts of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. However, Guwahati is unlikely to receive any rain in the coming days. Weather.com showed that the temperature in Guwahati rose to 39°C in the afternoon and fell to a minimum of 25°C.
The IMD stated in a press release on Monday that maximum daytime temperatures are three to five degrees Celsius above normal in many parts of northwest, east, and northeast India.
The heatwave has worsened, with 12 people dying from heatstroke after attending a large public gathering in the open in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. Over 20 people have been hospitalized, three of whom are in critical condition, while dozens of others suffered from dehydration. Reports suggest that physical exertion may have played a role in the incident, along with prolonged exposure to high temperatures and humidity.
