Extreme weather conditions have become part of life in India. Heatwaves in summer, cold waves in winter and heavy rain when it is least expected have become the norm. This year is an exception in the sense that it has broken the country’s 60-year heat record with Phalodi, a city in the northern state of Rajasthan, reaching 51°C.
Heat waves have claimed more than 300 lives across the country so far. This, too, is not unusual considering that hundreds of people die every year due to extreme weather. What’s particularly unfortunate this year is that the heatwave came on the heels of a severe drought that affected the lives of 330 million people.
These heatwaves, droughts and floods are predictable. With better planning and greater investment in basic infrastructure, India can protect against these natural disasters. As the Narendra Modi government marks its second year in office this month, it would be prudent on its part to focus on long-term, realistic strategies to tackle weather issues.
