India Sees Record Breaking Temperature

The highest temperature ever recorded in India came this Thursday in the town of Phalodi, Rajasthan.

The town saw the mercury rise to a scorching 51 degrees Celsius (123.8 degrees Fahrenheit) on the second day in a row that the temperature surpassed the 50 degree mark, writes Huizhong Wu for CNN.

Searing temperatures strike India

Across Rajasthan various towns recorded sweltering temperatures. In Churu highs of around 50 degrees Celsius were also recorded on Thursday. In the Indian capital of New Delhi, temperatures reached almost 47 degrees on Wednesday.

Alwar, another town in Rajasthan, was the previous holder of the record with 50.6 degrees in 1956. The Guinness Book of World Records reveals that the highest temperature ever recorded was in Death Valley, California on July 10 1913, when the mercury reached 56.7 degrees Celsius (134 degrees Fahrenheit).

The state of Rajasthan is home to the Thar desert and generally records India’s highest temperatures. The extreme temperatures are usually due to westerly winds that bring hot air.

Authorities hoping to avoid deaths

A red level alert has been issued for Rajasthan and other states including Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Temperatures in the latter two states have not passed the 50 degree mark, but they are higher than normal.

In fact temperatures for the whole country are higher than normal throughout 2016. Severe heat waves are affecting many areas and over 370 deaths have been reported thus far.

Last year more than 2,500 people died during the searing heat of summer. As a result the National Disaster Management Authority is coordinating with individual states on heat wave action plans which will help to raise awareness and encourage preventative measures.

Monsoon rains could bring relief

Monsoon season is coming, but 2014 and 2015 brought less than average rainfall. As a result ground water levels have reduced, leaving those who rely on ground wells without water.

The state of Maharashtra in western India is so badly affected that state officials have organized “water trains” to bring emergency supplies to rural villages.

The double impact of extreme heat and drought has understandably placed strain on many aspects of life. There have been accidents and even fatalities.

Five men died in Haryana state after falling into a well that they were trying to restore. It had previously fallen into disrepair due to lack of us.

According to authorities the men died after inhaling poisonous gases that had become trapped inside the well.

Authorities say the men were killed when they inhaled poisonous gas trapped in the well.

It looks like the extreme temperatures will continue into next week. As a result of the heat, many schools have been operating with shorter working days.

Monsoon rains are expected to arrive in June, which should bring some sorely needed relief. This year there is predicted to be an above average amount of rainfall.

Large parts of Sri Lanka and southern India have been hit by unseasonal rains this week, caused by a tropical depression in the Bay of Bengal.

Extreme weather events have been linked to global warming, and studies have shown that less developed areas of the world are generally worse affected by changing weather patterns. As shown in the case of India, poorer rural areas without a fixed water supply are worse off.

The threat of climate change is starting to affect more and more people around the world, and there is plenty more work to be done to combat it.