'The intensity and frequency of heatwaves will be much higher than in previous years over Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha.'
Even as the death toll due to the searing heat wave mounts by the day across India, state governments are struggling to come up with ways to mitigate the suffering. The Municipal Corporation of Ahmedabad may have a lesson or two to offer.
A day after Gujarat recorded its highest one-day surge of 17,119 new cases, five eminent doctors who are members of the task force spoke to the media.
According to an IMD forecast issued on Thursday, a heatwave spell will persist over northwest and central India during the next five days and over east India during the next three days.
The mercury at the Safdarjung Observatory is expected to breach the 43-degree mark on Thursday and touch 44 degrees Celsius by Friday, according to the India meteorological department.
'The new cases should be divided into three categories - mild, moderate, if a patient needs oxygen, and severe, if he/she needs ventilator support'
'Already, the temperature has touched 39 degrees in some parts of Gujarat and now we are in the last week of February.' 'We need to activate the heat action plan from March 1.'
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