Deaths due to heatwave in Europe will affect many sectors.
There are already warnings of El Nino. Even the world can’t stop him. Now the whole of Europe is suffering from heatwave. This is not an ordinary incident. It is sure to have an impact on the entire world including India. Even tourism, agriculture and supply chain may be affected. All the agencies around the world have already warned of extreme rains and drought at some places. Come, let us understand how and how much impact Europe’s heatwave can have on India and other countries of the world?
Europe was unprepared for the heatwave it is experiencing. People had no idea of this level of trouble. We cannot stop natural disasters, but we can reduce the risk to some extent through necessary precautions and alert systems. India is a country with a very large population, here a small natural disaster can leave a big impact. The heatwave of May-June 2026 in Europe was extraordinary. Average temperatures in Western Europe at the end of May were nearly 10 degrees above normal in many places. The surface temperature at some places on the satellite appeared to be above 50 degrees. The World Meteorological Organization has put the number of additional heat-related deaths after June 21 at more than 1300.
Due to irregular monsoon, there is drought in some places and excessive rain in other places.
The heatwave affected the jet stream and high pressure blocks. Such blocks can change both the speed and path of the monsoon. As a result the monsoon will sometimes be delayed and the distribution of rainfall will be uneven. This imbalance may increase the risk of excessive rainfall and floods in some parts. At the same time, drought may deepen in some other parts. These changes have been warned in many different reports. There is a possibility of its impact on the entire world. India too is not going to remain untouched by this. On the contrary, adverse consequences are going to fall on many areas.
The whole of Europe is suffering from heatwave. Photo: Getty Images
Impact on energy, markets and international supply fixed
The heatwave affected energy demand and prices in Europe. European gas prices stood at around 42.9 euros per MWh at the end of June. This is a sign of instability in the global energy market. Due to fluctuations in energy prices, importing countries like India may have to face inflation and supply costs.
Apart from this, if production slows down in Europe, the possibility of supply chain also being affected cannot be ruled out. Delays in manufacturing and exports may increase prices of raw materials and finished goods. The current situation points towards the need for smart stock management and finding alternative sources.
Thousands of flights have been disrupted in Europe due to the heatwave. Photo: Pexels
Tourism, travel and air connectivity will also remain untouched
Thousands of flights have been disrupted in Europe due to the heatwave. If we take the whole of Europe together, more than three thousand flights in a day were either delayed or cancelled. About 900 flights were affected at major London airports. This is a warning for India. If all this does not improve, if the weather does not cooperate, then the connectivity of Indian passengers will be affected. Ticket prices may increase. The revenue stream of the tourism sector may weaken. Flexibility in domestic and international travel policy and planning for alternative routing is essential.
Countries with ocean and fishing economies are also in trouble.
Irregularities in sea temperatures and drought are recorded in the Copernicus Climate Bulletin. Ocean warming may put pressure on coastal ecology and fisheries. If marine life in the coastal areas of Europe is affected, it is certain to have a negative impact on the global fish supply. This will affect the economy of those countries which import and export fish and marine products. These facts are important for India also. It has become necessary to monitor sea temperature and keep an eye on fisheries policy.
Heatwave may affect the supply of fish across the world. Photo: Pexels
The threat to public health is not over yet
The direct impact of heatwave is being seen on public health. The deaths recorded in Europe indicate deep pressure on health systems. Hospitalizations and medical expenses increase due to heat. The productivity of working workers decreases. The burden on insurance and public health expenditure increases. According to the World Meteorological Organization, if the heat increases or the monsoon becomes unbalanced in India, then similar pressure can be seen. Therefore, heat health alerts and worker protection policies are necessary.
Agriculture, food security and rural life will also be affected.
If the monsoon is weak or irregular, it is sure to have a negative impact on the crops. The yield of major crops like paddy, maize and pulses may be affected. The demand for irrigation will increase and there will be pressure on water resources and sources. If the drought in Europe continues for a long time, there will be a supply crisis and prices will increase in the global agricultural market. This may increase the risk of food inflation in India. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately implement water conservation, instant seeds and insurance system. The government system will have to be careful because there is also a warning of El Nino.
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Some important precautionary measures can reduce the risk
In this situation, other countries of the world including India will have to take some important steps. All organizations are emphasizing on this.
- One: Weather monitoring and data will have to be monitored. Data from Copernicus and World Meteorological Organization need to be used according to local weather.
- Two: Along with keeping an eye on various sources of energy, energy storage will also have to be increased. The International Energy Agency is also indicating that the energy market is becoming unstable.
- Three: Attention will have to be paid to water management in the agricultural sector.
- Four: It is necessary to make a flexibility policy for tourism and air companies.
- Five: There is a need to strengthen health warning and emergency response systems.
By taking some small measures like this, the risks can be reduced to some extent. In simple words, the heatwave in Europe will not directly bring heat to India. Amid warnings of El Nino, the impact could be far reaching through jet streams, ocean heat, energy markets and supply chains. The possibility of its impact on India also cannot be ruled out. Record temperatures, surface warming, disruption of thousands of flights and uncertainty over gas prices show that the impacts are multi-dimensional.
India must now intensify climate alert policies, energy security, agricultural support and health preparedness. Only timely monitoring and coherent policies can reduce risks and control impacts.
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