Several districts in West Bengal, including Purulia and Bankura witnessed a significant increase in the number of heatwave days between 1969-2019 and 2019-2023 according to a survey released recently.
On Saturday, NGO SwitchON Foundation released “West Bengal Heatwave Dynamics: A Report on Heat Wave Scenario of West Bengal”, which was also aimed at assessing public perceptions regarding the ongoing heatwave conditions. The report comes as people in West Bengal, especially those in the southern districts, are grappling with intense heat waves.
The report documented past occurrences of heatwaves and looked at their cause using a comparative analysis of temperature datasets between 1969-2019 and 2019-2023 released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune. “This analysis focused on identifying days with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius and above in West Bengal, specifically during April, May, June, and July,” said the report.
From 1969 to 2019, East and West Burdwan districts registered the highest number of heat wave occurrences and Kolkata experienced “115 disastrous heat wave days”. “Paschim Barddhaman and Purba Barddhaman experienced 153 and 146 disastrous annual heat wave days respectively. Both districts had a low normalized vulnerability index of 0.13 and 0.11, respectively. Kolkata experienced 115 disastrous heat wave days with a low normalized vulnerability index of 0.1,” said the report about the 1969-2019 period.
According to the analysis, Purulia witnessed the highest number of days — 30 to 44 — with maximum temperatures reaching 40 degree Celsius or higher between 2019 and 2023. “This indicates a consistent encounter with extreme temperatures, surpassing the 40-degree mark on several occasions. A comparative analysis of temperature datasets between 1969-2019 and 2019-2023 suggests a notable increase in heat wave days in Purulia,” it added.
The report said Bankura and Paschim Medinipur districts saw 20 to 30 days of heat days during 2019-2023 — showing a significant rise in heat days for Bankura compared to the period between 1969 and 2019.
“Paschim Barddhaman, despite facing the highest number of heat wave days between 1969 and 2019, observed only 10 to 20 days of heat days (temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius) in the 2019-2023 period. Jhargram, Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, and Jalpaiguri districts have also experienced 10 to 20 days of heat days during the same timeframe,” according to the report.
The team also conducted an impact study on the effects of heatwaves involving 815 participants in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha in April 2024 “to capture people’s perceptions of the current heatwave situation, how it has changed over the years, the problems people are facing due to the rising temperatures, and how their daily lives are affected”.
The survey had a particular focus on West Bengal, where 387 individuals were engaged. Within the West Bengal subset, the demographic breakdown revealed a gender distribution of 65 per cent male and 35 per cent female respondents. The survey exclusively targeted urban areas, ensuring a diverse representation across various age groups and occupational strata.
“Irrespective of gender, most of the people in Bengal (near about 29% of female and 26% of male respondents) have faced heat exhaustion as a major health issue due to heat waves. The male population suffers from dizziness and heat strokes more than the female population.”
According to the survey, respondents in Bengal said health issues are the major challenges due to heat waves. “More than 29% of the respondents both male and female, face physical problems during heat waves. Besides this, lack of cooling facilities and water shortages are other major challenges during heat waves,” it said.
Respondents of the survey suggested modifying urban planning to cope with the severe effects of heat waves, with over half recommending this approach.
The report stated, “This lack of cooling options was identified as a considerable issue. Furthermore, the economic impact of heat waves was significant, affecting nearly 12.58% of respondents. This economic strain exacerbated health issues and infrastructure problems for the people of West Bengal”. “… 99% of survey respondents in West Bengal think that the government authorities should take more action to address the impact of heat waves.”
Dr Kaustabh Chaudhuri, a Kolkata-based paediatrician, said children face more health risks during heatwaves and listed ways parents can take care of their wards.
“Heat waves can pose significant risks to children’s health, from dehydration to heat exhaustion. Parents must keep kids well-hydrated and cool during hot spells. They should watch for signs of overheating, such as cramps, excessive sweating, dizziness, fatigue and even high-temperature spikes after exposure. They should seek medical attention if symptoms worsen after preventive measures. Prevention through proper hydration and staying indoors during peak heat hours (12 pm to 3 pm) is key to keeping the little ones safe,” said Dr Chaudhuri.
(Taniya Acherjee is an intern with The Indian Express.)