Page 4 - Heatwave

Heatwave tragedy for Hajj pilgrims: Saudi Arabia reports 1,301 deaths

The Saudi government's statement highlighted that 83 per cent of the deceased were 'unauthorised pilgrims', facing extreme conditions without adequate shelter or amenities

More than 1,300 died during Hajj, many after walking in intense heat

More than 1,300 people died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia as the faithful faced extreme high temperatures at Islamic holy sites in the desert kingdom, Saudi authorities announced Sunday. Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel said that 83% of the 1,301 fatalities were unauthorized pilgrims who walked long distances in soaring temperatures to perform the Hajj rituals in and around the holy city of Mecca. Speaking with the state-owned Al Ekhbariya TV, the minister said 95 pilgrims were being treated in hospitals, some of whom were airlifted for treatment in the capital, Riyadh. He said the identification process was delayed because there were no identification documents with many of the dead pilgrims. He said the dead were buried in Mecca, without giving a breakdown. The fatalities included more than 660 Egyptians. All but 31 of them were unauthorized pilgrims, according to two officials in Cairo. Egypt has revoked the licenses of 16 travel agencie

Millions in US brace for more heat as floods inundate parts of Midwest

Millions of Americans prepared to sweat through yet another scorching day, with the potential for rolling storms later Sunday to bring relief from the sweltering heat for at least some. Floodwaters inundated parts of the Midwest, including a town in Iowa evacuated after being submerged up to the rooftops. Across the country in California, daily highs in the state's Central Valley were expected to stay in the triple digits (over 37 Celsius) into Monday. From the mid-Atlantic to Maine, across much of the Midwest and throughout inland California, public officials cautioned residents sweating through the heat and humidity. In Oklahoma, the heat index what the temperature feels like to the human body was expected to reach 107 degrees (41 degrees Celsius) on Sunday. It's more important for people who are going to be outside to stay hydrated, because heat, humidity and low winds, even if you're in good shape and not really acclimated to it, it could be a danger, said Bruce Thoren, a ...

Amid scorching summer, water available in 150 main reservoirs dips to 21%

With scorching heat battering a large swathes of India over the past few weeks, water available in the 150 main reservoirs across the country further dipped to just 21 per cent of their total live storage capacity. The Central Water Commission (CWC) has released the live storage status of 150 key reservoirs across India in its latest bulletin. These reservoirs, crucial for hydroelectric projects and water supply, have a combined live storage capacity of 178.784 billion cubic meters (BCM), which is approximately 69.35 per cent of the total live storage capacity created in the country. As of Thursday, the live storage available in these reservoirs is 37.662 BCM, which is 21 per cent of their total capacity. Overall, the live storage available across the 150 reservoirs stands at 54.310 BCM against the estimated total capacity of 257.812 BCM. This marks a significant decrease from the same period last year, when the live storage was 46.883 BCM. The current storage is also lower than t

Brutal heatwave: Death toll climbs to 143, actual numbers could be higher

The prolonged heatwave sweeping large parts of the country has claimed more lives, with 143 recorded deaths and 41,789 people suffering from suspected heatstroke between March 1 and June 20 this year, Health ministry sources said on Friday. However, the heatwave toll is expected to be higher than this as the data compiled under the National Heat-Related Illness and Death Surveillance by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) does not have updated submissions from states. Several health facilities are also yet to upload data on number of heatwave casualties. According to the official data, on June 20 itself there have been 14 confirmed deaths due to heatstroke and nine deaths due to suspected heatstroke, taking the death toll in the March-June period to 143 from 114. Uttar Pradesh is the worst-affected, having reported 35 deaths followed by Delhi (21) and Bihar and Rajasthan (17 each), according to the data. Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Thursday asked officials to vis

Over 50% households buying bottled soft drinks: Kantar FMCG report

The average Indian household's consumption of bottled soft drinks has increased in the last two years, breaching annual penetration of 50 per cent in FY24, a report said. According to the latest Kantar FMCG pulse report, this trend is expected to rise further with intensifying summer. It said the average household has expanded its consumption of bottled soft drinks by 250 ml in the last two years. Moreover, fabric softeners, still considered to be a premium laundry item, have now reached one in every four households in the country, the report said. Besides, washing liquids, another premium laundry product introduced by leading FMCG majors, breached the 100,000-tonne mark in FY24. All these trends are "record breakers", the report noted. The bottled soft drink category had a "massive 41 per cent household growth in MAT (moving annual total) March 2023" and continued to add more households and expanded 19 per cent in MAT March 2024. "With the intensifying summer, the category is li

90 Indians among over 1,000 Hajj pilgrims dead in Mecca amid intense heat

Deaths among Egyptians had surged to at least 658, a significant increase from the previous day's 300, largely due to the oppressive heat

110 heatwave deaths, over 40K cases of heatstroke reported in India

The unrelenting heatwave sweeping large parts of the country has claimed at least 110 lives and left over 40,000 people grappling with suspected heatstroke between March 1 and June 18 this year, Health ministry sources said on Thursday. Uttar Pradesh is the worst-affected having reported 36 deaths followed by Bihar, Rajasthan and Odisha, according to the data compiled under the National Heat-Related Illness and Death Surveillance by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). "The data visible may not be final submission from states. So the numbers are expected to be higher than this," an official source said. According to the data, on June 18 alone there have been six deaths due to heatstroke. Swathes of northern and eastern India have been in the grip of a long heat wave, increasing heat stroke casualties and prompting the Centre to issue advisory to hospitals to set up special units to cater to such patients. Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Wednesday directed that specia

Delhi's heatwave claims 192 homeless lives in nine days, crisis escalates

Amid scorching heat gripping the national capital, the past 48 hours have seen 14 fatalities and 380 individuals hospitalised in government facilities due to severe heat conditions

Heatwave update: Light rain cools Delhi, heat-related deaths rise to 34

Over 40,000 suspected heatstroke cases have emerged across the country this summer, claiming over 100 lives nationwide

June setback shouldn't dampen monsoon from performing well: Meteorologists

Even the IMD in its latest forecast predicted a revival of the rains over eastern India and gradual abatement of the heatwave conditions over North India

North India reels from severe heatwave, may get slight relief on June 20

Swathes of northern and eastern India grappled with punishing heat wave conditions on Wednesday, and a western disturbance may provide much-needed relief, though only marginally, over the next few days, according to the India Meteorological Department. Also, conditions are now favourable for further advancement of the Monsoon which had made no significant progress between June 12 and 18, extending the wait for rains in north India which is reeling from the sweltering heat. Maximum temperatures ranged from 43 to 45 degrees Celsius in many parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and north Rajasthan. In the national capital, hospitals reported a spike in heatstroke cases and several deaths in the last two days. Delhi recorded its warmest night in at least 14 years, with the minimum temperature settling at 35.2 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heat wave to severe heat wave conditions prevailed in parts of Uttar Pradesh, south Uttarakha

DDMA issues guidelines to minimise impact of heatwave; details here

As per IMD, the maximum temperature of 43.6 degrees Celsius was recorded in the national capital on Wednesday

Intense heatwave: 5 deaths reported in Delhi, many admitted to hospitals

At least 12 people, mostly daily wage labourers are in critical condition battling for their lives on ventilator support

Heatwave kills over 550 people during Hajj pilgrimage

At least 550 pilgrims died during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. What is the reason? Watch the video to know more

India to get below normal rainfall in June as monsoon stalls, predicts IMD

India has received 20 per cent below normal rainfall since the start of the monsoon period on June 1, and overall precipitation for the entire month will also be subpar, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. After reaching the Indian mainland two days earlier than usual and swiftly covering many other states, the rain-bearing system made no significant progress between June 12 and 18, extending the wait for north India, which is reeling from a sweltering heat wave. However, conditions are now favorable for further advancement of the monsoon into parts of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, coastal Andhra Pradesh, northwest Bay of Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand over the next three to four days, the weather department said. India received 64.5 mm of rainfall between June 1 and 18 which is 20 per cent less than the long period average (LPA) of 80.6 mm, it said. Since June 1, northwest India has recorded 10.2 mm of rainfall (70 per cent less than normal), central India 50.5 m

Monsoon gathering pace in Maharashtra, to progress by June 21-22: IMD

The south-west monsoon, which has slowed down after hitting Mumbai, is gathering pace and is expected to progress further by June 21-22, an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday. The progress of the monsoon will provide a much-needed relief to north India, which is reeling under an intense heatwave. "Monsoon activity was weak after it hit Mumbai, but it is slowly turning moderate. It will strengthen by June 21-22 and coastal Maharashtra is likely to receive good rainfall. Central Maharashtra, including Marathwada, will receive light to moderate rainfall during this time," Sunil Kamble, Head of the Regional Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai, said. Several parts of Mumbai received showers on Wednesday morning, but it was insufficient to give respite from oppressive heat. Monsoon arrived in Mumbai on June 9, two days ahead of its normal schedule. Since then it made little progress and it is yet to cover parts of northern Maharashtra and ...

Early blast of heat & humidity leaves millions sweltering across US

A blast of heat and humidity in the Midwest and Northeast days before the official start of summer put a wet blanket on outdoor activities from festivals to sports camps as officials urged people to take precautions. Cities that opened cooling centers this week advised that Wednesday's Juneteenth holiday means some public libraries, senior centers and pools where residents could beat the heat will be closed. The dangerous temperatures were expected to peak in the eastern Great Lakes and New England on Wednesday and Thursday, and in the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic on Friday and Saturday, the National Weather Service said. Heat index readings were expected to reach 100 to 105 degrees (37.7 C to 40.5 C) in many locations. People and even zoo animals were forced to find ways to thwart the muggy weather. An organization that provides produce to areas with limited access to fresh food in Columbus, Ohio, prepared frozen towels and packed cold water for their workers. Hydration is the ke

Heatwave in India: 5 die in Delhi, warnings issued, little relief in sight

While the weather department has predicted some respite from the current heatwave, it added that relief will only come with the arrival of the monsoon

Heatwave kills over 550 people during 2024 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia

The temperatures at Mecca's Grand Mosque soared to a blistering 51.8 degrees Celsius on June 17. The majority of the fatalities were Egyptian pilgrims, along with at least 60 Jordanians and 5 Iranians