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The '''2016 Indian heat wave''' was a major [[heat wave]] in April and May of that year. A national record high temperature of 51.0 °C (123.8 °F) was set in the town of [[Phalodi]], in the state of [[Rajasthan]].<ref name="Agarwal2016">{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2016/05/20/indian-heat-wave-breaks-record-for-highest-temperature/|title=Indian Heat Wave Breaks Record for Highest Temperature|last1=Agarwal|first1=Vibhuti|date=20 May 2016|work=Wall Street Journal}}</ref><ref name="cnn-record">{{cite web|last1=Wu|first1=Huizhong|title=Mercury rising: India records its highest temperature ever|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/20/asia/india-record-temperature/|website=CNN|access-date=22 May 2016}}</ref> Over 160 people died with 330 million affected to some degree.<ref name=Tharoor2016>{{cite news |last1=Tharoor |first1=Ishaan |title=Brutal heat wave in India puts 330 million people at risk |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/04/22/brutal-heat-wave-in-india-puts-330-million-people-at-risk/ |work=Washington Post |date=April 22, 2016 }}</ref> There were also water shortages with drought worsening the impact of the heat wave.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/western-indian-state-tries-to-cope-with-record-heat-wave-1463846290|title=Western Indian State Tries to Cope With Record Heat Wave|website=Wall Street Journal|access-date=22 May 2016|ref=west India}}</ref>

== Background ==
According to the [[India Meteorological Department]], a heat wave is defined as a maximum air temperature of at least 40°C (104°F) in the plains and 30°C (86°F) in hilly regions, and is also declared when the maximum temperature remains 45°C (113°F) or higher, irrespective of the normal maximum temperature.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forecasting Manual Reports |url=http://imdpune.gov.in/Weather/reports.html |website=India Meteorological Department }}</ref>

In India, the month of May is typically one of the hottest and driest.<ref name=Agarwal2016/> In 2016, the heat came early, with 111 heat-related casualties reported by 8 April.<ref name=ClimateSignals>{{cite web |author1=Climate Nexus |title=India Extreme Heat 2016 |url=https://www.climatesignals.org/events/india-extreme-heat-2016 |website=Climate Signals |date=23 March 2016 }}</ref> Most of the heat waves in India since 1998 are associated with droughts;<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Panda |first1=Dileep Kumar |last2=AghaKouchak |first2=Amir |last3=Ambast |first3=Sunil Kumar |title=Increasing heat waves and warm spells in India, observed from a multiaspect framework |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres |date=16 April 2017 |volume=122 |issue=7 |pages=3837–3858 |doi=10.1002/2016JD026292 |bibcode=2017JGRD..122.3837P |doi-access=free }}</ref> a major [[drought]] and worsening water shortages had affected around 330 million people by 23 May.<ref>{{cite news |title=It's so hot in India people are getting stuck in tarmac |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/india-s-roads-melt-as-record-breaking-heat-wave-continues-a7044146.html |work=The Independent |date=23 May 2016 |access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref> The high temperatures, combined with other atmospheric disturbances, led to thunderstorms and lightning strikes in some states, leading to deaths, the destruction of houses and uprooted trees, as well as affecting crops and farm animals.<ref>{{cite web |title=India is suffering a series of deadly heatwaves |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/05/deadly-heatwaves-will-be-sweeping-across-india-for-the-next-few-weeks |website=World Economic Forum |access-date=17 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nageswararao |first1=M. M. |last2=Sinha |first2=P. |last3=Mohanty |first3=U. C. |last4=Mishra |first4=S. |title=Occurrence of More Heat Waves Over the Central East Coast of India in the Recent Warming Era |journal=Pure and Applied Geophysics |pages=1143–1155 |date=29 August 2019 |volume=177 |issue=2 |doi=10.1007/s00024-019-02304-2 |bibcode=2019PApGe.177.1143N |s2cid=201658792 }}</ref> The [[monsoon]] rains that would provide some relief were nearly one week behind the scheduled date, and would not reach the north until several weeks later.<ref name=Agarwal2016/>

More than 20,000 people have died of heat wave-related causes in India since 1992; the heat wave in 2015 was one of the five deadliest on record.<ref name=Tharoor2016/><ref>{{cite web |title=Heat Wave Hits Thailand, India |url=https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/87981/heat-wave-hits-thailand-india |website=Earth Observatory |publisher=NASA |date=4 May 2016 |access-date=15 October 2019}}</ref>

==Impact==

The highest temperatures typically occur in May or June prior to the annual monsoon.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=van Oldenborgh |first1=Geert Jan |last2=Philip |first2=Sjoukje |last3=Kew |first3=Sarah |last4=van Weele |first4=Michiel |last5=Uhe |first5=Peter |last6=Otto |first6=Friederike |last7=Singh |first7=Roop |last8=Pai |first8=Indrani |last9=Cullen |first9=Heidi |last10=AchutaRao |first10=Krishna |title=Extreme heat in India and anthropogenic climate change |journal=Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |date=24 January 2018 |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=365–381 |doi=10.5194/nhess-18-365-2018 |bibcode=2018NHESS..18..365V |doi-access=free }}</ref> Increasing temperatures and more frequent heat waves appear to be a result of human-induced climate change.<ref name=ClimateSignals/> In response to these more frequent events, many cities across India have implemented plans to warn people of the dangers of excessive heat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.climatecentral.org/news/indias-heat-waves-more-deadly-21522|title=India's Punishing Heat Waves More Deadly With Warming|last=reaTWeather|website=www.climatecentral.org|language=en|access-date=2019-10-26}}</ref>

While the number of deaths was relatively small, those most likely to die from heat exposure were labourers who were forced to work outside despite a government ban limiting work during the hottest part of the day.<ref name=Tharoor2016/> Schools were also ordered to extend the summer holiday to reduce the risk to children.<ref name=Tharoor2016/> The greatest impact of the extreme temperatures were on crops, with hundreds of millions of people affected by the failure of food crops.<ref name="World Weather Attribution">{{cite web |url=https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/india-heat-wave-2016/ |title=Record high temperatures in India, 2016 |website=World Weather Attribution }}</ref>

The government hospital in Phalodi reported 500 patient visits, double the average number; many of those patients were complaining of diarrhea.<ref name=NajarKumar2016/> To combat the heat, people drink water, but in 2016 the heat was coupled with drought.<ref name=NajarKumar2016/> Lack of adequate water leads to dehydration and consumption of contaminated water leads to diarrhea.<ref name=NajarKumar2016/> It is likely that the death totals were significantly underestimated due to a lack of systematic data collection.<ref name="World Weather Attribution" />

== Health Effects ==
A [[heat wave]] usually causes severe health conditions and death. [[Heat stroke]] and heat stress are two of these adverse effects.<ref>{{cite web |author1=National Disaster Management Authority |title=Guidelines for preparation of action plan: prevention and management of heat-wave 2016 |url=http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/content/428726/guideline...tion-of-action-plan-prevention-and-management-of-heat-wave-2016/ |website=India Environment Portal }}</ref> Also, the [[heat wave]] was the main cause of the prevalence of [[Cardiovascular disease|cardiovascular]] and [[Respiratory disease|respiratory diseases]] in hospitals.<ref name=":02">{{cite report |title=Guidelines for Preparation of Action Plan – Prevention and Management of Heat-Wave |year=2017 |publisher=National Disaster Management Authority Government of India |url=https://ndma.gov.in/images/guidelines/heatwaveguidelines2017.pdf }}</ref> The [[humidity]] and temperature increases caused harmful health effects, especially for vulnerable people such as the elderly, children, outdoor workers and people in [[poor living conditions]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Roadmap for planning heatwave management in India |date=September 2016 |url=https://www.preventionweb.net/go/50954 |website=PreventionWeb }}</ref> Indian people's health were affected indirectly by [[water scarcity]] for both drinking and grazing purposes.<ref name=NajarKumar2016>{{cite news |last1=Najar |first1=Nida |last2=Kumar |first2=Hari |title=Pray for Shade: Heat Wave Sets a Record in India |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/21/world/asia/india-heat-wave.html |work=The New York Times |date=20 May 2016 }}</ref> That led to heat-related health challenges such as [[dehydration]] [[hyperthermia]].<ref>http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/wcp/wcsp/rcofs/sascof/health/documents/1st-South-Asia-Climate-Services-Forum-for-Health.pdf</ref> Therefore, Indian people suffered from [[dizziness]] and [[organ dysfunction]].<ref>{{cite web |title=CDKN Guide to heat action planning: lessons from India |url=https://cdkn.org/resource/heat-action-plans/ |website=Climate and Development Knowledge Network }}</ref> In [[Phalodi]], people suffered from [[diarrhea]] and [[high body temperature]].<ref name=NajarKumar2016/>

The [[mortality rate]] differs in India during different months and in different cities. At the beginning of April 2016, more than 100 people died from heat.<ref name=ClimateSignals/> In the three Indian cities of [[Delhi]], [[Telangana]] and [[Odisha]] more than 600 died in just one month.<ref>{{cite web |title=2016 Indian Heatwave: May smashes heat records in India |url=https://www.skymetweather.com/content/weather-news-and-analysis/may-temperature-breaks-all-time-weather-record/ |website=Skymet Weather }}</ref> In the region of [[Bihar]], 180 people died, and a large number were affected by [[heat stroke]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Air pollution and irrigation mask true severity of Indian heatwave, study shows |url=https://www.climatecentre.org/news/1158/air-pollution-and-irrigation-mask-true-severity-of-indian-heatwave-study-shows |website=Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre }}</ref> The [[National Disaster Management Authority Government of India]] shows that 1,111 died because of the heat wave in 2016.<ref name=":02" />

== Local Response ==

In [[Odisha|Orissa]], [[Maharashtra]] and [[Gujarat]], programs were launched to educate people on hydration, providing shelters and training medical workers. In Andhra Pradesh, government workers distributed water and buttermilk, whilst TV and newspaper adverts urged people to stay indoors during peak hours.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Parts of India ban daytime cooking after hundreds die from heat wave and fires |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/04/30/asia-pacific/parts-india-ban-daytime-cooking-hundreds-die-heat-fire/#.XbM7KEZKhPY |website=japantimes,co,jp |publisher=The Japan Times |access-date=25 October 2019}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=India heat wave: Daytime cooking bans follow hundreds of deaths |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/04/29/india-heat-wave-daytime-cooking-bans-follow-hundreds-of-deaths/ |website=mercurynews.com |publisher=The Mercury News |access-date=25 October 2019}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{cite web |title=330 Million Impacted By India Heat Wave That Has Killed At Least 160, Officials Say |url=https://weather.com/safety/heat/news/deadly-southern-eastern-india-heat-wave-2016 |website=The Weather Channel |publisher=weather.com |access-date=25 October 2019}}</ref>

Schools were shut down in [[Odisha]] and [[Telangana]] weeks ahead of summer holidays.<ref>{{cite web |title=More than 100 feared dead in India heat wave |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-heatwave-idUSKCN0XI0R8 |website=reuters.com |publisher=Reuters |access-date=25 October 2019}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=India drought: '330 million people affected' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-36089377 |website=bbc.com |publisher=BBC |access-date=25 October 2019}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> Hospitals stopped performing surgeries.<ref name=":4">{{cite web |title=Indians demand government action after temperatures hit 51C |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/20/indians-demand-government-action-after-temperatures-hit-51c |website=theguardian.com |publisher=The Guardian |access-date=25 October 2019}}</ref> A ban on day-time (9am - 6pm) cooking was imposed to prevent accidental fires.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /> [[Supreme Court of India|India's Supreme Court]] ordered the [[Indian Premier League]] out of [[Maharashtra]], stopping 13 cricket matches because of the amount of water needed to prepare pitches.<ref name=":5">{{cite web |title=India heatwave: Train keeps city alive as cricket matches cancelled, farmers and animals suffer |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-01/train-keeps-indian-city-alive-in-heatwave/7373546 |website=abc.net.au |publisher=ABC News |access-date=26 October 2019}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

There were numerous calls for more government action.<ref name=":4" /> Leading Indian economists, rights activists and academics sent an open letter to the government expressing the same.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> In his monthly radio address, Modi pledged 20 billion rupees ($400 million) to deal with the crisis.<ref name=":5" />

In Maharastra, the local government's response to the portable water shortage was to supply water to its city via train. The train became known as "Jaldoot" (Hindi), meaning "water saviour". In a single nine-hour journey the train was able to deliver 2.5 million litres of water.<ref name=":5" />

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{List of heat waves|state=autocollapse}}
{{Disasters in India in 2016}}

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[[Category:2016 disasters in India]]
[[Category:2016 heat waves]]
[[Category:2016 meteorology]]
[[Category:April 2016 events in India]]
[[Category:Heat waves in India]]
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2016 Indian heat wave - Revision history

MetaBOT at 18:56, 8 July 2023