With summer already becoming very harsh the traditional nine-day period of intense heat known as ‘Nautapa’ is expected to begin from May 25 and continue till June 2 and weather experts have warned that many parts of north India including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi-NCR and Rajasthan may face extreme heatwave conditions during this period.
The word ‘Nautapa’ comes from two Hindi words ‘Nau’ meaning nine and ‘tapa’ meaning intense heat and according to Rajasthan’s traditional beliefs and folklore this period begins when the Sun enters Rohini Nakshatra and is considered the hottest phase of summer season and although the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) does not officially use the term ‘Nautapa’ weather experts say this period often matches peak pre-monsoon heat seen across northwest India every year.
According to weather forecasts by the IMD Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and nearby areas are expected to witness very hot and dry weather over next 15 days and day temperatures in many places may remain between 40 and 44 degrees Celsius while some areas in northwest and central India could even touch 46 degrees Celsius while cities such as Mohali, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Hisar, Sirsa, Jodhpur and Bikaner are likely to experience very difficult weather conditions and dtrong hot winds, commonly known as ‘loo’ are also expected during daytime and experts have also warned that nights may remain unusually warm giving people very little relief from heat.
At some isolated places thunderstorms and light scattered rain may occur which could bring temporary relief however weather experts say the overall heat conditions are expected to stay severe during Nautapa period. Traditionally many people believe that stronger heat during Nautapa is linked to a better monsoon season later in the year however this belief is cultural and not officially confirmed by weather scientists.
Health experts and authorities have advised people to remain very careful during this period especially children, elderly people and outdoor workers and people have been advised to avoid going outside between noon and 4 pm unless necessary and drinking plenty of water and electrolyte-rich fluids is being strongly recommended to prevent dehydration. Experts have also advised people to avoid too much tea, coffee and alcohol during extreme heat.
Wearing loose and light-coloured cotton clothes and protecting the body from direct sunlight can also help reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses. The IMD has further advised farmers and labourers to shift heavy outdoor work to early morning or evening hours to avoid exposure to dangerous heat conditions and authorities in Punjab and Haryana have urged people to stay alert and take heatwave warnings seriously during the upcoming Nautapa period.
