Mitigation Measures for People

Mitigation Measures for People

• The State Governments must maintain close coordination with India Meteorological Department (IMD) and closely monitor cold wave situations through Cold Index to measure cold discomfort. Warnings should be disseminated to the public through appropriate forums (including local newspapers and radio stations) on a regular basis.

• Cold Wave Forecast and Prediction is done by Indian Metrological Department on the basis of:

• Synoptic Analysis

• Climatological Analysis

• Dynamic Statistical Techniques

• Consensus model made from various Global Numerical Prediction Models.

• Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF Model) based on Meteorological & Oceanographic Satellite Data Archival Centre from Space Applications Centre, ISRO.

• Precaution measures to be followed are as follows:

• Stay indoors as much as possible to minimize exposure to the cold.

• Tune in to local radio stations for the latest weather updates.

• Consume nutritious food to help maintain body heat and drink non-alcoholic fluids to prevent dehydration.

• Dress in multiple layers of light, warm clothing instead of a single heavy layer. The outerwear should be tightly woven and water-resistant.

• Keep yourself dry and change wet clothes immediately

to avoid losing body heat.

• Ensure proper ventilation when using kerosene heaters or coal ovens to prevent inhalation of toxic fumes.

• If heating arrangements are unavailable, seek shelter in public places where the administration provides heating facilities.

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Cover your head to prevent heat loss and protect your lungs by covering your mouth.

• Avoid excessive physical exertion, as overworking can increase the risk of a heart attack.

• Be alert for signs of frostbite, such as numbness and pale or white skin on the fingers, toes, earlobes, and nose tip.

• Watch for hypothermia symptoms, including uncontrolled shivering, confusion, memory loss, slurred speech, drowsiness, and extreme exhaustion. Seek immediate medical attention at the nearest hospital.

• Stockpile essential supplies such as food and water before a cold wave occurs.

• Ensure hospitals are prepared to handle patients suffering from frostbite and hypothermia.

Mitigation Measures for Crops and Animals

Farmers should provide light irrigation as needed, promptly trim damaged branch tips or shoots, burn leaves and waste materials in orchards to generate smoke, and aid crop recovery by pruning dead plant material and applying additional fertilizer through foliar sprays.

Spraying vulnerable crops with water can paradoxically shield them by freezing, which absorbs cold from the surrounding air.

Animal care organizations should offer guidance and necessary assistance to ensure the well-being and protection of animals.

During cold wave conditions, livestock owners must provide adequate nutrition with suitable feed to prevent animal fatalities. They should stockpile sufficient feed or forage in advance and prevent animals from exposure to extreme cold.

Using locally available organic mulches for thermal insulation can slow down soil cooling and help maintain soil warmth.

• Running fans in orchards can facilitate air circulation, disrupting inversion layers and allowing cold and warm air to mix freely.

• Generating heat using heaters or fires between crop rows and producing smoke by burning dried weeds or wood in orchards can create an insulating air blanket. This helps trap outgoing long-wave radiation, significantly reducing temperature drops (greenhouse effect).

• Sprinkler irrigation can help release latent heat of fusion, warming the surrounding air through the condensation of water droplets.

• Encouraging the cultivation of cold- and frost-resistant crops or plant varieties in frost-prone regions can help minimize agricultural losses.

• The use of growth regulators and chemical applications to enhance plant resistance to cold stress may also be beneficial.

• Establishing windbreaks or shelter belts around orchards in regions prone to cold waves can help reduce

wind speeds and the chilling effect on the leeward side while also minimizing heat loss from protected crops.

• Practicing mixed cropping by interplanting vegetables like tomato and brinjal with taller crops such as mustard or pigeon pea can serve as a natural barrier against cold winds.

• Implementing agronomic techniques such as raising nurseries under partial tree shade or between tree rows, adopting multi-story or mixed plantations, and pruning unnecessary twigs or branches for use as mulch can provide insulation. Additionally, plant cover shade offers significant protection through the greenhouse effect.

Steps Taken to Mitigate Cold Wave in India

• Considering the importance of cold wave, the Government of India notified ‘cold wave’ as a disaster and the Ministry of Agriculture as the nodal Ministry.

• National Guidelines for Preparation of Action plan - Prevention and Management of Cold Wave and Frost by NDMA.

• Timely Warning and Colour Coded system of Indicators have been developed for dissemination among the people by Indian Metrological Department (IMD).