## India Prepares for Extreme Heatwave During Summer Months
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting on Thursday to review India's preparedness for the upcoming summer season, which is expected to bring extreme heatwave conditions. The meeting focused on ensuring synergy between central, state, and district-level governments in mitigating the potential impact of the heatwave.
The official statement released after the meeting highlighted the anticipated above-normal maximum temperatures across most parts of the country during April-June, with a high probability of such conditions in central western peninsular India.
The meeting reviewed the health sector's preparedness, including the availability of essential medicines, intravenous fluids, ice packs, ORS, and drinking water. The importance of timely dissemination of information, education, and communication (IEC) awareness material in regional languages through various platforms like television, radio, and social media was also emphasized.
Given the hotter-than-normal summer expected in 2024, coinciding with the General Elections, the meeting stressed the need to translate advisories issued by the Health Ministry and NDMA into regional languages and disseminate them widely.
Prime Minister Modi emphasized the need for a whole-of-government approach, urging all arms of the government at central, state, and district levels, along with various ministries, to work in synergy. He also highlighted the importance of creating awareness and ensuring adequate preparation in hospitals, along with the need for quick detection and suppression of forest fires.
The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Home Secretary, officials from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), and the National Disaster Management Authority.
The IMD has recently predicted extreme heat for India during the April to June period, with central and western peninsular parts facing the worst impact. This comes as the country prepares for the seven-phase general elections starting April 19.