A study has been conducted by researchers from the University of Cambridge and it states that climate change is fuelling deadly heat waves in India and it is putting the country’s development at risk, reversing its progress on poverty alleviation, health and economic growth.
Heat waves have had major impacts in the country , leading to power outages, increased dust and air pollution, and accelerated glacial melt in the north of India.
Since 1992, more than 24,000 people have died because of heat waves in India and the impacts are expected to get much worse as heat waves become more frequent, intense, and lethal due to the climate crisis.
“India is currently facing a collision of multiple cumulative climate hazards,” said the researchers.
“Long-term projections indicate that Indian heat waves could cross the survivability limit for a healthy human resting in the shade by 2050.”
The study shows that millions more people in India are vulnerable to climate change than first thought. More than 90% of the country could be severely impacted by heat waves, falling into an extreme heat “danger” zone, according to the heat index, the study found.
