DHAKA: India’s killer heat wave is leaving the country reeling from the worst drought in decades and a rural population struggling to survive.

Relief is due with the arrival of the monsoon in mid-June, and because of the impending La Nina weather pattern, the forecast is for above-average rainfall, CNN reports on Thursday (May 5).

However WaterAid India's Head of Policy, Nitya Jacob, says groundwater levels are so depleted that even if a good monsoon comes in June and meteorologists predict there will be one that ends the drought it won't be enough.

CNN Meteorologist, Michael Guy, says this is usually the hottest time for the subcontinent, but this year has seen an unprecedented spike in temperatures.

‘India is currently in their summer or pre-monsoon season, which lasts from April to late May, or early June,’ says local.

‘This year we've seen temperatures range from the lower 40s to as high as 47˚C or 116˚Fahrenheit. For some, this is three to five degrees (Celsius) above normal.’

And critically, the past two monsoon seasons have seen below average rainfall.

‘This has had a huge impact on groundwater supplies,’ says Jacob.
Impact on the ground

The government estimates up to 330 million people could currently be affected by the dry climate conditions.
 
BDST: 1433 HRS, May 5, 2016
SAS/AKA