Special heat wave bulletins to be given to 17 states every day

The India Meteorological Department has said that besides the regular five-day forecasts, it will come out with special heat bulletins at 0730 hours to help people plan their day accordingly.

Seventeen heat wave-prone states will be provided special heat bulletins every morning, besides the regular five-day forecasts, so that people can reschedule their work, arrange drinking water and other necessary items, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Friday.

People try to protect themselves from the heat wave in Ranchi, on May 9. (Diwakar Prasad/ HT File Photo)

This was conveyed to the states during a meeting, conducted through video conference, on Friday.

According to an official release, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said besides the regular five-day forecasts, it will come out with special heat bulletins at 0730 hours to help people plan their day accordingly.

The NDMA took stock of the states’ preparedness and mitigation measures in view of the recent incidents of thunderstorm and lightning. Preparedness measures relating to these hazards were also assessed.

A detailed review of the preparedness of the states in terms of action plans up to the district levels for providing shelter, drinking water and rescheduling work timings to avoid peak heat impact for labourers, those undergoing medical treatment and others was carried out, the release said.

The NDMA has been running an all-out awareness campaign on social media on the do’s and don’ts of heat wave, thunderstorms and lightning. The NDMA’s ‘Beat The Heat India’ campaign is being widely used and publicised by various other stakeholders.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)