New Delhi: A prolonged heatwave and minimal pre-monsoon rainfall have severely impacted crop yields across northern India, resulting in a sharp rise in vegetable prices in Delhi-NCR. Wholesale traders reported significant price hikes in tomatoes, green vegetables, and other kitchen staples on Monday.Surge in prices of onion, potatoAt Khandsa market, potato prices surged to Rs 20-25 per kg, nearly double from previous weeks. Retail prices soared even higher to Rs 40-50 per kg. Similarly, onions and tomatoes saw increases of Rs 20-30 per kg, with customers paying Rs 50-60 per kg. Prices for capsicum skyrocketed to Rs 180 per kg (from Rs 50), garlic to Rs 180 per kg (from Rs 90), cucumber to Rs 60/kg (from Rs 30-40), and beans to Rs 120/kg (from Rs 80). Complementary items like coriander reached Rs 300/kg (from Rs 100) and green chillies Rs 160 per kg.Due to adverse weather conditions It can be due to reduced crop production due to the adverse weather conditions. Despite minimal profit margins, customers are purchasing less due to the increased prices. Residents expressed concerns over the rising cost of groceries. Kapil Raghav, a Sector 44 resident, noted the sharp increase in tomato prices from Rs 20 to Rs 50 per kg. Other vegetables like ladyfinger, round gourd, and sponge gourd have also surged to Rs 60/kg from Rs 40/kg. Managing the household budget has become challenging, he lamented. Krishan Kumar Yadav from Sector 15 remarked on the unusual price hikes before the monsoon season. If prices continue to rise, managing expenses will become even more difficult, he added.Basant Kumar Yadav, secretary of the Gurgaon market committee, attributed the supply shortage to reduced crop yields caused by extreme heat. He warned that while the upcoming monsoon may alleviate some price pressures, excessive rainfall could pose new challenges for crop cultivation, further affecting supply and demand dynamics.40,000 suspected heatstroke cases Indias severe heatwave has inflicted widespread harm, with the health ministry documenting over 40,000 suspected heatstroke cases and at least 110 confirmed deaths from March 1 to June 18. The nation faces a summer of extreme weather, with scorching temperatures nearing 50 degrees Celsius in northern regions, exacerbated by heavy rainfall causing floods in the northeast. Experts link the prolonged heatwave to human-induced climate change, underscoring its unprecedented duration and intensity. As the country contends with these climatic challenges, concerns mount over the escalating impact on both human health and vulnerable wildlife populations.1,300 deaths during this years Hajj Saudi authorities reported over 1,300 deaths during this years Hajj pilgrimage, citing extreme high temperatures at Islamic holy sites. Health Minister Fahd bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel noted that 83% of the fatalities were unauthorized pilgrims, who endured soaring temperatures while trekking long distances to participate in Hajj rituals near Mecca.
