The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning of a gradual rise in temperature in Jharkhand and most parts of the country by 2-4 degrees Celsius over the next five days.
This warning comes on the heels of earlier predictions by the weather department that Jharkhand and several parts of the country, except for parts of the northwest and peninsular region, are expected to experience above-normal maximum temperatures from April to June.
Jharkhand figures among other states such as Bihar. UP, Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana where the next two months will have a higher number of heatwave days.
IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mahapatra has attributed this to the higher number of heat waves in summer due to climate change.
In February this year, India experienced its hottest February since record-keeping began in 1901, according to the IMD.
However, above-normal rainfall due to seven western disturbances, including five strong ones, kept temperatures in check in March.