The Rain Brings Respite to the Scorching Heat Felt Across the Subcontinent

The months of March and April saw some of the hottest days in history here in New Delhi. With temperatures hitting 42 and 43 C (109 F), we felt the impact of global warming first hand. It's not just the rise in temperature that is worrying scientists, but how early the heat has hit the subcontinent. Usually such high temperatures are experienced in the months of June and July, not March and April. As a result of this heat, the country has experienced electricity and water shortages, and a reduction in wheat production, down 50% in areas that have been worse hit by the heat wave. The electricity shortages forced the government to cancel over 600 passenger trains across India and divert them for coal transportation to meet the rising electricity demand. Amidst the high temperatures, 2 of the city's largest landfills, East Delhi's Ghazipur and North Delhi's Bhalswa, were set a blaze as high temperatures generated combustible methane; a recipe for a climate disaster. With such temperatures, we'll see glaciers up north melting faster leading to an increased risk of floods in the coming months. As the country heats up, the Government of India must take on the challenge of addressing some of the manmade causes of climate change -- mainly increased fossil fuel consumption.