Heat waves, floods and heavy rain: India Battling climate change and it is getting worse

The spectre of climate change is here to stay and even worse, say climate scientists as searing winds blow across swathes of north India, including New Delhi where temperatures have crossed 49 degrees Celsius, and flash floods ravage parts of the northeast. With increasing temperatures as a result of global warming in South Asia and the consequent exceeding levels of heat and humidity, it is predicted that we will have more intense, longer and frequent heat waves in India, environmentalist and climate scientist Shakil Ahmad Romshoo told in a phone interview from Srinagar. According to Indian Meteorological Department data, the average maximum temperature over northwest and central India for this year has been the highest in 122 years. A 4.5 to 6.4-degree departure from normal is considered to declare a heat wave and over 6.4-degree departure for a severe heat wave.