Delhi and other parts of northern India are facing un-precedented, prolonged scorching heat for over a month continuously. The current spell is the longest in more than half a century. It causes heat stroke that can be fatal. What are the symptoms and what to do if heat exhaustion sets in. How to read Heat Index to help avert heat stress in the next season. (Graphics: All Rights Reserved ©indiatraveltimes.com)

For the purpose of clarity, let us call the disorder caused by scorching heat as heat stroke/sun stroke, and the one caused by sultry heat of high relative humidity and not very high temperature as heat stress. In the latter, a Wet bulb and Dry bulb test can show the high heat the body feels in humidity.

NEW DELHI, June 19: A Delhi-Bagdogra Indigo flight was delayed by four hours on Monday due technical problems caused by heatwave at the Delhi airport. The aircraft returned to the terminal after being on the tarmac of the airport for over two hours. The passengers were on board.

With "high ground temperatures," hovering over 45°C, seven notches higher than normal in the national Capital, flight 6E 2521, scheduled to depart at 2:10 pm, eventually took off at 6:15 pm. The Airbus A320neo was parked on the tarmac when it experienced the technical snag.

It is reported that one passenger faced health problems due to lack of sufficient oxygen inside. Passengers complained that the airconditioning was not working.

"IndiGO flight 6E 2521 between Delhi and Bagdogra was delayed due to high ground temperatures impeding operations. IndiGo prioritises passenger safety above all else and is taking steps to enable a prompt departure. Passengers are being provided with regular updates and we regret the inconvenience caused due to factors beyond the airline's control," said an IndiGo spokesperson.

Delhi and other parts of northern India are facing unprecedented, unbearable and prolonged scorching heat for over a month continuously. Hundreds of people, including 25 officials engaged in the recent general elections, have died of heat stroke during the period. However, deaths used to be in thousands earlier in much lower temperatures because the people's awareness about sun stroke, also called heat stroke, and their preparedness was far low.

Since May 12, temperature in the Capital has been consistently above 40 deg C (104 Fahrenheit), mostly hovering around 45 deg C, and crossing 50 deg C mark once.

The current heatwave is unprecedented and more fatal not only because of the reigning mercury, but also because of the spell prolonging without break and at the same time the night being hotter giving no relief with the result that the following day will experience an add-on effect definitely causing what is called heat stress even without exposure to direct sunlight. Earlier, severe heatwaves used to occur only a few times during May-June lasting two-three days each time with nights also getting hot.

And this is the longest heatwave spell in more than half a century, the Met precisely marking the year as 1951.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted above-normal temperatures for June in northwestern and central India, including Delhi.

Meanwhile, boarding and check-in services at the Delhi airport were also affected due to a power outage caused by voltage fluctuations. It briefly affected all IGI terminals. The disruption was from 2 pm to 3 pm.

Car goes up in flames

Not only air travel, road traffic has also been affected. In one instance, a car driver scorched his hands while gripping the wheel to start his vehicle parked in the sun for long.

In another incident, a running Renault Kiger car went up in flames in Noida in Delhi-NCR Monday afternoon. An alert driver saved his life as he quickly pulled over and jumped out as soon as he noticed smoke billowing out of the AC blower.

Amidst the heatwave, three dozen scrapped cars were gutted in a fire in an abandoned plot in Noida on June 2 afternoon.

Fire incidents at houses, hospitals etc have been more frequent and devastating in north-central India in the current summer leading to high casualties.

What causes heat stroke/sun stroke: When the relative humidity is low or nil, but the air temperature is high, and there is direct exposure to sunlight or do physical activities, the result is exhaustion and sun stroke due to dehydration as all water content will be used up for sweating to control body temperature. Sweating may not be felt as there is instant evaporation because the weather is dry and hot.

What causes heat stress: When the body becomes hot it sweats or perspires and when the perspiration evaporates, the body cools down. If the perspiration does not evaporate because of high atmospheric moisture content (relative humidity), the body's mechanism to control its temperature fails. Symptoms of heat stress appear. This type of humidity-related heat disorder mostly occurs during June-July in northern India while in southern India it is during July-August as the scorching summer leaves and it becomes cloudy and rains break intermittently. Exposure in the sun and physical activities are to be limited in both the seasons. In high humidity and hot weather, staying in the bathroom or covering body with wet cloth can lead to heat stress unawares, unlike in the case of a sun stroke.

Heat Index: The Heat Index shows how much heat the body faces or "feels" in shady locations, at a particular level of atmospheric temperature at certain humidity level. In case of prolonged exposure or strenuous activities, heat index values will go up by 15°F. Hot winds can also be extremely hazardous. The wind adds heat to the body.

Fahrenheit-Centigrade conversion formula:

C=(F-32)x5/9

F=(Cx9/5)+32

COMMON HEAT DISORDERS:- Heat exhaustion symptoms: Feeling heavy sweating (in heat stress), weakness, dizziness, nausea/vomiting, muscle cramps, headache, disorientation, rapid heart beat, pale skin

First aid tips: Get to a cooler, air conditioned place; Drink water if fully conscious; Take a cool shower or use cold compression; Cover neck, chest and feet with wet cloth (only in heat stroke); Lie under the fan.

Who is at risk: Children, Seniors, Athletes, Outdoor Workers, the Sick

Prevention: Avoid exposure to sunlight; Limit outdoor activities; No excessive physical strain; Drink water; No coffeine; No alcohol; Cool showering; Light and loose clothing; No waiting in car

Mysterious deaths and heat stress index
How to prevent heat stress
What did Dubai do?

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