India, June 16 -- A long-term assessment on heat trends and vulnerabilities in Maharashtra shows that despite advances in the arrival of the monsoon in recent years, instances of extreme heat are on the rise. Maximum temperatures during summers as well as prolonged stretches with temperatures above 40deg Celsius have risen substantially over the past seven decades, the assessment shows. This signals a shift from episodic to chronic heat exposure, with profound public health consequences for vulnerable groups including infants, elderly people, those with chronic illnesses, and millions of informal sector workers, said experts.

As per the report compiled by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and public health experts using 72 years ...