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.
