JAIPUR : The relentless heat wave in Rajasthan continues to claim lives. On the fifth day of Nautapa, traditionally considered as the hottest nine days of the year, four more people, including a one-and-a-half-year-old girl and a Sarpanch, succumbed to the severe heat.
This brings the death toll from heat-related incidents to 55 in just seven days, and 122 for the entire summer season so far. Nautapa, the nine hottest days when the Sun enters Rohini Nakshatra in May-June, is living up to its reputation.
The state is under a red alert for heat in 20 districts for Wednesday and Thursday. In the last 24 hours, Churu recorded an unprecedented maximum temperature of 50.5 degrees Celsius. Other regions also experienced extreme temperatures, with Ganganagar, Phalodi, and Pilani exceeding 49 degrees Celsius, which is 7.5 degrees Celsius above normal.
Jaipur Meteorological Center Director Radheshyam Sharma said, “Areas connected to Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi are facing more problems of heat wave. There has been some relief in the temperature in Rajasthan today. The heat will decrease further in the coming days.”
The extreme heat has led to significant shortages of electricity and water. Approximately 40 districts are experiencing a severe drinking water crisis. A report from the Central Ground Water Department declares two-thirds of Rajasthan’s blocks as drought-affected. The Water Supply Department’s report highlights alarming figures, showing that most cities are not receiving adequate drinking water.