Rising heatwave drives tourists to Shimla; locals anticipate strong business
New Delhi: As temperatures climb across large parts of India, tourists are heading to hill destinations to escape the ongoing heatwave.
The capital of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla, has seen a sharp rise in tourist arrivals in recent days. Local businesses are optimistic about strong earnings as visitor numbers continue to grow.
“Hotels, taxis, and travel businesses are doing well… We are expecting a good footfall in the coming days. The tourist rush is on the rise,” a local travel agent, BS Verma, said.
According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, temperatures across northwest, central, and peninsular regions are currently ranging between 40 degrees Celsius and 44 degrees Celsius. In several areas, temperatures are more than 5 degrees Celsius above normal, pointing to an intensifying heat stress situation.
“As per the latest assessment, maximum temperatures in many parts of northwest, central and peninsular India are currently ranging between 40°C and 44 °C. In several regions, temperatures have been observed to be markedly above normal by 5°C or more, indicating a developing heat stress scenario across parts of the country,” the Ministry of Earth Sciences said.
In response, the Union Health Secretary on Monday wrote to Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories, urging them to strengthen heatwave preparedness. Measures include activating Heat Stroke Management Units at healthcare facilities, ensuring ambulance readiness, issuing timely early warnings, and enabling real-time reporting of heatstroke cases on the Ministry’s IHIP portal.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast above-normal heatwave days across multiple regions from April to June 2026, with its monthly forecast for April.
Areas in eastern, central, and northwestern India, along with parts of the southeastern peninsula, are expected to face particularly intense conditions.
Coastal regions of Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh are also likely to be significantly affected. Additionally, some parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka may experience similar heatwave conditions.
(DD News)
