Worst of heatwave yet to come, cautions Met

If springtime March felt like sizzling May, imagine what it would be like next month.

The India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) seasonal forecast shows the worst is yet to come, as vast swathes of the country are set to reel under scorching heat from April to June before the monsoon arrives.

The average and minimum temperatures in the Delhi-haryana region could be at least 1.5-degree Celsius above normal in these three months. For the north-west and central India, the mercury is likely to hover over a degree Celsius above normal.

The weather outlook, done with an advanced model that gives a better resolution, says only the Himalayan regions of West Bengal and Sikkim might escape the summer scorcher.

The forecast is a reflection of the searing heat in most parts of India, including the national capital, since March. New Delhi endured its hottest March in seven years this season, and the mercury is refusing to relent.

The day temperature in New Delhi and Chennai rose to nearly 40 degrees Celsius, at least seven notches above the season’s average, on Monday. Banda in Uttar Pradesh was the hottest, recording a maximum of 43.6 degree Celsius — followed by Madhya Pradesh’s Nowgong at 42.7, Bankura in West Bengal and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan at 42.6 and Jharkhand’s Daltonganj at 42.5.

There are fears that an emerging El Nino in the equatorial Pacific might interfere with the monsoon — the June-september rain that delivers 70% of India’s annual precipitation.

El Nino, a cyclical climate pattern, is linked to the warming of the Pacific water surface. A cooler Pacific means normal monsoon. Conversely, warmer oceans mean patchy rains. An El Nino-induced drought scorches crops and kills livestock.

The monsoon is critical for India’s farm-driven economy and its farmers, as nearly half of the country’s farmland lacks irrigation. The country received average monsoon rain last year, but the rainfall distribution was uneven, leaving parts of southern and western India parched. Backto-back droughts have ravaged crops in Maharashtra.

The weather office is due to issue its monsoon forecast this month, but India could emerge unscathed from the El Nino weather pattern, said KJ Ramesh, the IMD director general. But private forecaster Skymet last week predicted a poor monsoon this year.

On Sunday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued its April to June summer forecast that predicted a 0.5 to 1 degrees Celsius mean rise above normal for the state during this period.

While the Konkan coast is expected to record an average rise of 0.34 degrees Celsius above normal, central Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha could expect the average maximum temperature to exceed by 1 degree Celsius above normal.

Officials from the weather bureau said the current temperatures are likely to continue for a week over the state and heatwave conditions are unlikely during this time. “The weather system responsible for the heat wave is over central parts of the country and Maharashtra is clear of it. As the core summer season starts, the conditions are likely to return, but as of now temperatures will be just above the 1 degree Celsius mark in most places,” said Sunita Devi, director, weather central, IMD Pune.

Last summer, 19 deaths caused by heat stroke, were reported in the state between April and June, a state official said.

Heatstroke is a medical condition caused when a person is exposed to high temperatures, for a long period of time. As a result, the core body temperature becomes greater than 40 degrees Celsius, higher than the normal 37, leading to a failure of the body’s temperature control system.

Doctors said heatstroke, if left untreated can to be fatal. “Heat stroke is always in combination with dehydration. It can damage the brain, heart, kidneys and muscles and may lead to organ failure, if the body temperature is not lowered quickly,”

They said senior citizens and children are prone to heat related problems and must not step out in the afternoons. Of the total eight suspected deaths this year, five were people above the age of 50 years and three are below 25, said Awate.

Dr Deepak Sawant, the state health minister had told HT that the existing toll free helpline — 104 and 108 — which are used for emergency ambulance and blood services respectively, are routed to take care of queries related to heat strokes.

“We have issued the advisory so that citizens exercise caution. There is no cause for concern as all district level hospitals have been asked to remain prepared to deal with accidents and health ailments caused due to heat wave conditions,’’ said Sawant.

Meanwhile, Mumbai recorded day temperatures close to the normal mark in south Mumbai (32.6 degrees Celsius) and almost a degree Celsius above normal in the suburbs (33.8 degrees Celsius).

However, the night temperature at south Mumbai was 1.1 degrees Celsius above normal while the minimum at the suburbs was at the normal mark.

“My children are never informed about school picnics. They always find out from other students that they were taken to an amusement park or a zoo,” said Amrina Shaikh, residing in Golibar slum in Santacruz, whose husband works as a driver, but doesn’t have steady income. “My kids are the first generation to study in an English medium-convent school.”

Similarly, Minaaz Mushtaquin Pathan, a parent from Govandi, complained the school staff often behaves rudely with them. “They have a hostile attitude towards us,” said Minaaz. The school where her children were allotted seats last year in the quota, refused to provide books or uniform for free.

Parents’ complaints against discrimination are not taken seriously by the authorities. Despite repeated complaints, no action has been taken against any of the schools. “This is not what we thought would happen when the Right to Education Act was enacted, families are now disillusioned and I don’t see how the children will continue studying there till Class 8,” said Sudhir Paranjape, member of the Anudanit Shiksha Bachao Samiti, a non-government organisation helping parents.

Psychologists said discrimination can scar a child forever. “It will have long-term effects on the child’s personality such as reclusive or aggressive behaviour. The child may face trust issues,” said Seema Hingorrany, clinical psychologist. “In case a child faces any such problems, he or she must receive counselling on time.”

Schools said they cannot provide books and uniform for free because the government doesn’t reimburse them for it. “The money provided by the government barely covers tuition fees, and that too, isn’t paid on time,” said Satish Lotlikar, managing trustee, Indian Education Society Schools.

On the flip side, schools said many students avail quota through fraudulent means. Last week, CBM School Sion, filed a police complaint against eight people for submitting fake birth certificates to secure admission to the reserved seats. Before that, last year, a few schools had caught families faking their income to use the quota.

Of these, Mumbai has close to 500. HRWAI estimates the state would lose a whooping Rs7000 crore in taxes, excise and license fees due to this ban.

The Indian Hotels and Restaurant Association (AHAR) has asked the State Government to expedite the process of de-notifying the highways. “Hoteliers have invested a lot in their business and if something is not done fast, it will be a great loss to their livelihood as well as their workers,” warned Adarsh Shetty, President, AHAR. “We will see a huge spurt in illicit liquor if these legal bars are closed down,” warned Shetty. He said Maharashtra needs to follow the examples of states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh which de-notified the highways and saved the trade.

State Excise Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said state is exercising various options like handing over the highways passing through the cities to the respective civic bodies. In a meeting held by cheif secretary Sumit Mullick, government departments expressed reservations on de-notifying the highways. “Before taking any decision, the govenrment has decided to carefully study the SC order to avoid further emberassment. De-notifying the highways has its own difficulties as the civic local bodies should be in position of maintaining them as per the standards set in. Secondly even it may lead to the contempt of the court. We have asked the law and judiciary department to submit a report on the order, while the Excise department will study various options to minimise the loss,” said an ofificial from the Excise department.

In December last year, taking note of the large number accidents on highways caused by drink driving, the SC had ordered a ban on all establishments within 500 metres of high- ways that served liquor. On Friday, the court said the order also applied to restaurants, hotels and bars, and not just liquor vends. Following the order the excise department sealed all the godowns storing liquor.

Joint commissioner of police, law and order, Deven Bharti, confirmed the Mumbai police have contacted Facebook and blocked the video so it does not go viral.

The Mumbai police later tweeted about the incident saying, “Deeply bereaved with suicide of a young boy in the city. We urge the youngsters to reach out to us #Wearelistening. Contact us on 100.”

Pensioner Vyacheslav Veselov told AFP he had seen four bodies at the station.

“A station attendant in tears called on the men to help carry the bodies,” he said.

The blast occurred in a train carriage as it was travelling between the Technological Institute and Vosstaniya Square stations at 2:40pm local time, said the spokesman of Russia’s anti-terrorist committee (NAK) Andrei Przhezdomsky.

The NAK committee later confirmed security services had found another explosive device at the Vosstaniya Square metro station. This device did not explode and it was immediately “neutralised.”

The metro network in Saint Petersburg announced it was shutting down entirely after evacuating all passengers.

The Moscow metro also tweeted that it was “taking additional security measures” as required by law in such situations. NAK said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that security was being stepped up at transportation hubs and crowded places across the country.

Saint Petersburg announced three days of mourning in the city while President Vladimir Putin, who was holding a meeting nearby in his official Strelna presidential palace, offered “condolences” to those hurt in the blast and to the loved ones of those killed.

Just hours after the blast, people began laying flowers by the Sennaya Square station.

“I was shocked,” said local resident Alexander Malikov. “I gathered my friends around and we came to put flowers here.”

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini wrote on Twitter she was following developments “together with all EU foreign ministers” gathered for a meeting in Luxembourg. “Our thoughts are with all the people of Russia,” she wrote.

Extremists have targeted Russia’s public transportation systems in the past.

“However, I agree that one train carries 1,000 to 1,200 people, so even one train accident can cause a disaster.”

Railway rules say every loco pilot must undergo a breathalyzer test while signing on and signing off duty.

Failing a test can lead to removal from service, though most offenders are let off with temporary removal from rosters or denial of increments.

HT spoke to more than a dozen loco-pilots, former high-ranking railway officials and doctors who blamed increasing stress levels for a rise in the number of drunken train drivers.

“In summer, the temperature inside the loco cabins (engines) rises to above 50 degree celsius as none of the trains have AC loco cabins,” said a long distance train driver on the condition of anonymity for fear of official reprisal. “We don’t get good sleep in railway retiring rooms as most of them are close to stations. Pay scale is highly unsatisfactory. In case of any incident, everyone find faults with the driver. All these result in huge pressure,” said another driver of an inter-state train.

Psychologists don’t see the claim of stress as incredible. They say alcohol consumption due to stress has been on the rise in the country over the past 10 to 15 years, and that train drivers can’t remain isolated from this fact. “Alcohol is being used across the board in the society to relieve from the stress because the traditional stress-busting mechanism is not available now. That’s why liquor sale is up 10 to 15 times in the last ten years,” said Sujata Sharma, a clinical psychologist.

Staff crunch also adds to work pressure. Railway sources said up to 40% shortages exist at all levels of loco-pilots in every zone. In the Delhi division, the sanctioned strength of passen 40% of the posts are vacant.

“We drink occasionally and only when for another 8 to 10 hours we don’t have to attend any duty,” said a driver of a goods train.

It asked the AAP to introspect on its poll performance in Punjab instead of blaming the EVMS — a comment that Kejriwal and other leaders have bristled against.

Kejriwal’s party came a dis tant runner-up, bucking projec tions that it will form the next government in Punjab — the party’s second after New Delhi.

He questioned the reliability of EVMS after the Punjab polls.

The Congress too joined the anti-evm chorus after a pur ported video of an EVM tested ahead of by-polls in Madhya Pra desh showed the paper trai attached to it generating a receipt for the BJP. The state chief elect oral officer Saleena Singh had pressed the button for the Samaj wadi Party candidate.

A voter-verified paper audit trail or VVPAT allows a voter to know if the machine registered a vote for the candidate selected The slip is visible for seven sec onds before it drops into a box.

Kejriwal’s said his “experts” can show in 72 hours how the machines could be tampered to suit a political party.

The AAP alleged that EVMS for by-polls in Madhya Pradesh were shifted from Uttar Pradesh where assembly poll results were declared on March 11.

“All EVMS sent to Bhind were used in Uttar Pradesh’s Govind Nagar during the assembly elec tions. How can you allow that? Also, we have heard that VVPAT machines from UP were brought to conduct the Rajouri Garden bypoll,” Kejriwal said.

He alleged that the commis sion has violated its own rules, as EVMS from an election can’t be reused for 45 days — a period dur ing which a person can petition against the result, which would warrant an examination of the machines.

“People are asking whether they should even bother to vote if the EVMS could be tampered … municipal elections should be held using paper ballots. It should be postponed if time is required to do that,” he said.

The nominations for elections to the three municipal corpora tions ended on Monday.

The commission said the party has levelled “baseless observa tions and allegations”.

“VVPAT machines are not required by the law to be retained in a strong room for the purpose of election petition and are availa ble for use. However, in the by-polls only VVPAT machines kept in reserve, and not used dur ing the polls, have been rede ployed,” the panel clarified in a statement.

The standby machines go through the same rigorous proto col and kept ready.

“Hence, the VVPATS sent to Bhind had the previous symbols loaded from Uttar Pradesh. This is a standard protocol and there was nothing amiss in this,” the commission said.

The old symbols for contesting candidates are erased only before the next polls.

“It was not done when a dem onstration was made on March 31 in Bhind.”

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