Tens of millions of Indians are struggling to cope with a relentless heatwave, with temperatures in some regions the hottest in more than 120 years in this South Asian nation.

New Delhi.- Addressing a recent press gathering, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said central and northwest India faced the most sizzling temperatures in 122 years in April.

This year has seen a gradual rise in maximum temperatures by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius (3.6 to 7.2 Fahrenheit) over those areas, and there will be no respite from the heat in May, IMD said.

Heatwaves – with temperatures ranging from 43°C to 46°C – are prevailing in 15 Indian states, including New Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.

Surface land temperatures, meanwhile, have exceeded 60°C over some parts of northwest India, according to satellite data.

“The extreme climate events are occurring due to climate instability. Nowadays, there are solely extremes whether it is heat, cold, floods, or drought. This will occur more often than earlier because of climate change.

“Because of its large population, India is in absolute terms expected to lose the equivalent of 34 million full-time jobs in 2030 as a result of heat stress,” reported International Labour Organization.

“Although most of the impact in India will be felt in the agricultural sector, more and more working hours are expected to be lost in the construction sector.”

India will be seriously harmed if greenhouse gas emissions are not cut, warned Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its latest report. It described India as potentially the most “economically harmed” because of extreme weather events. The current heatwave is also part of that change, climate experts say. (RHC)