By Jitendra
A heatwave is an ‘extreme weather event’ but the government does not keep data related to casualties caused by heatwaves, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Babul Supriyo told Parliament on June 28.
He gave details of all extreme weather events in India since 2014, from when the government has been considering heatwaves as extreme weather events.
The revelation contradicts what the Centre claims. It has never declared heatwaves as extreme weather events and never declared them as natural disasters despite heavy causalities every year between March and June.
It, however, keeps a track and maintains records for other extreme weather events like coldwaves, earthquakes, floods, excessive rains and cyclones.
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