What is the issue?
Indian states has lack of infrastructure to reduce the impact of extreme weather conditions.
What is the present situation in Indian states?
- Northern states in the ‘weather hotspot region’ experience annual dust storms in the pre-monsoon season from the Thar Desert and further west.
- Recently this region was hit by a destructive version of these storms due to the combined influence of hot western winds and moisture from the easterlies.
- Waves of extreme weather have caused much misery, mostly in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Click here to know more
- Many of the casualties in the dust storms were caused by collapsing infrastructure, such as electricity transmission lines that could not withstand such weather.
What are the mitigation measures needed?
- Public infrastructure needs to be upgraded and construction of huge structures must be regulated in the northern region by allowing for wind breakers.
- The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has to convey early warnings to centre, the states concerned as well as disaster management teams which helps in coordination and rescue work.
- Administrators and personnel has to be adequately qualified to handle rescue and rehabilitation to reduce the damage to the vulnerable lives.
- Awareness should be spread to people in the hotspot regions to take precautions against extreme weather and renovate old buildings which may not be safe in such weather conditions.
Source: The Hindu
