India and Pakistan emerge as early victims of extreme heat conditions due to climate injustice
Yogesh Jain, Rachna Jain
Abstract
Summer weather and extreme heat came unusually early to South Asia this year leading to the hottest March in the last 122 years. These extreme heat conditions, which typically affect northern, central, and western parts of India and Pakistan, have also extended to southern parts of India, where people and governments are not as well prepared. 1 Ambient temperatures reached above 47C in India by the end of April and 49.5C in Pakistan in early May with land surface temperatures reaching an unprecedented 62C on 4 May in central India. 2 We are still only in the middle of the hot season and await further high temperatures with dread, especially the peak heat period of Nau-tappa (nine-days of heat) usually around 25 May to 3 June. Although maximum temperatures are likely to decline in June and July, the heat may be more dangerous as humidity will increase in the moisture laden monsoon season.