South Asia sizzles: Record heatwave and extreme weather blamed on climate crisis · Global Voices
Rezwan

Screenshot from YouTube video by Abhi and Niyu via Zoom.Earth. April 7, 2024. Fair use.
A scorching heatwave is ravaging South and Southeast Asia, impacting hundreds of millions with its intense heat. With April temperatures shattering previous records, the region is witnessing extreme weather patterns, wildfires, and tragic heat-related deaths. Schools have been forced to close, agricultural production and storage of perishable foods have been disrupted, and the risk of heatstroke and other health problems has risen significantly.
Climate scientist Roxy Koll tweeted:
The entire Indo-Pacific in a frying pan https://t.co/SKjJpxgT02 pic.twitter.com/R5g8hkfHrE
— Roxy Koll ⛈ (@RockSea) April 30, 2024
The scientists attribute the heatwave to the diminishing influence of the 2023–2024 El Niño event, which started in July 2023.
Bangladesh has experienced increasingly extreme weather conditions in recent years, and April 2024 stands out as the hottest month since 1948, with average temperatures ranging from 40–42 degrees Celsius (104–107.6 degrees Fahrenheit) in over 80 percent of the country.
Climate journalist Rafiqul Montu posted on X (formerly Twitter):
There was a continuous #HeatWave in #Bangladesh throughout April '24. Bangladesh has never seen such a hot April before. @zoom_earth map showing the heat intensity of the last day of April. The Meteorological Department has said, the abnormal heat will continue even after April. pic.twitter.com/ABE01jqTJC
— Rafiqul Montu 🇧🇩 (@ri_montu) April 30, 2024
#Bangladesh is burning in #heatwave. Four rounds of #heatalert have been issued in the country. Educational institutions were closed for a few days. April broke the 76-year record for consecutive heat waves. The abnormal heat wave disrupts people's life. pic.twitter.com/WgI4Od9b2z
— Rafiqul Montu 🇧🇩 (@ri_montu) April 27, 2024
Typically in April, Bangladesh receives 130.2 millimetres of rain, however, this year, there was almost none. The government announced the closure of government schools affecting 33 million students nationwide, while private schools with better facilities transitioned to online education. In just one week of April, over 10 deaths across the country were attributed to heatstroke.
However, the most notable impact was the wildfires in different parts of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest, the world's largest mangrove forest. Sundarbans is a remote area, lacking adequate firefighting resources nearby. The Forest Department, along with fire service personnel, local villagers, and other volunteers, could only start firefighting efforts 17 hours after the first fire. As of the time of writing this report, a significant portion of the huge fire in the Amurbunia area of the Chandpai range is still burning, posing a threat to its rich biodiversity.
Asif Saleh, the Executive Director of the non-profit BRAC, posted on X:
Horrifying news. The Sundarbans, the world’s biggest mangrove forest, is on fire. Firefighters and local communities trying their hardest to douse flames, but another heatwave announced for next 48 hours. This forest is world heritage. This news should shock us all into action. pic.twitter.com/NuJOue4efx
— Asif Saleh (@asifsaleh) May 5, 2024
As the heatwave continued, Saleh continued sharing about the impacts and devestation:
The heatwave continues. Another 3-day warning issued. Its been almost a month – the longest on record in Bangladesh. In addition to heatstroke deaths and school closures, we're seeing highways melting, a power station on fire, over a million chickens dead – even tea plants dying.
— Asif Saleh (@asifsaleh) April 28, 2024
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) resorted to spraying 400,000 litres of water from two cannons on key roads in the capital, Dhaka to keep the temperatures down.
Dhaka North City Corporation uses a water cannon to cool down temperatures. Screenshot from YouTube video of Desh TV News. Fair use.
In Bangladesh, historically, heat waves have not been a concern, but extreme temperatures in recent years call for better preparedness and mitigation measures.
Parts of India experienced a heatwave for up to 26 days in April, resulting in over nine deaths across the country. The eastern Indian states of West Bengal and Odisha recorded the hottest temperatures in the past decade, with some states experiencing temperatures seven or eight degrees above the normal average. The southwestern coastal state of Kerala also experienced a rare heatwave, resulting in two fatalities.
Extreme heat also troubled voters in certain Indian states during the ongoing general elections
Research scientist Vineet Kumar posted on X:
Stark difference in rain between April 2024, when below normal rain (red shade) in entire east India, and April 2023, when rain was above normal in east India (blue shade) explain the prolonged heatwave in West Bengal and Odisha this April which was not there last April.Image:IMD pic.twitter.com/8WOYNc4aHw
— vineet kumar (@vineet_tropmet) May 1, 2024
There have been reports of wildfires due to excessive heat in Uttarakhand, in northern India. Heatwaves are expected to persist in India throughout May 2024.
In late April, the Southern region of Nepal experienced temperatures higher than usual, reaching above 40 degrees Celsius in some areas. This has led to an extended period of intense heat and dry weather conditions, sparking wildfires across the country. While wildfires are typically observed during March and April, this year has seen a significant increase, with approximately 4,500 wildfires reported nationwide, nearly double the number compared to last year.
User firehorse249791 posted on X:
[Kathmandu] Forest fires: 165 incidents reported so far https://t.co/PP0yym1co0 #ClimateChange #ClimateEmergency #ClimateCrisis #GlobalBoiling #SevereWeather #Wildfire #Heatwave #Forests #Wildlife #Gandaki #Karnali #Badikhel #Kathmandu #Nepal
— firehorse23 (@firehorse249791) May 1, 2024
The heatwave and forest fires threaten the biodiversity of the country. Non-profit organization Kayapalat posted about this issue on X:
☀️🐦 Help save birds during this heatwave! Many birds are struggling to find water in the hot summer. Please consider placing water pots in open spaces, balconies, and compounds to provide them with a much-needed source of hydration.🌿💧#malaipanipaani #kayapalat pic.twitter.com/If4aDByfkF
— Kayapalat (@kayapalat_nepal) April 30, 2024
The above-average temperature has caused health concerns in different parts of Nepal.
Sri Lanka has been experiencing high temperatures across the country, especially in the north, since late April. On May 4, the Department of Meteorology issued an “extreme caution level” in some northern states.
(1): Extreme heat warnings have been issued for certain provinces, while others are at a “caution level” across Sri Lanka.#slnews #srilanka #heatwave #SouthAsia #newslk #srilankanews #colombo #jaffna #weathernews #publicizehealth #publicizenewsnational pic.twitter.com/6wv1P0tGRk
— Publicize News: National (@PublicizeLK) May 4, 2024