Kolkata: Bengal has emerged as one of India’s states most vulnerable to heat-related premature births, with the extreme heatwave of April 2024 associated with an estimated 11.9 additional preterm births per 1,000 deliveries, according to a new analysis by international research group Zero Carbon Analytics (ZCA).
The study estimates that Bihar, UP, Bengal and Jharkhand together accounted for nearly two-thirds of India’s excess preterm births associated with the April 2024 heatwave, compared to a typical April based on each state’s own 1991-2020 climate The analysis estimates that the April 2024 heatwave was associated with approximately 16,150 excess preterm births across India, Bangladesh and the Philippines compared with a typical April. In a separate assessment, researchers attributed around 10,600 additional preterm births across the three countries specifically to human-caused climate change. India alone accounted for approximately 8,830 climate-attributable preterm births.
Joanne Bentley-McKune, lead author and senior research analyst at ZCA, said: “Climate change is making extreme heat more frequent and intense, raising the risk of preterm birth, which is linked to life-long health impacts. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kolkata | Silver Rate in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Petrol Price in Kolkata | Diesel Price in Kolkata | CNG Price in Kolkata | LPG Price in Kolkata The findings, released on Monday, highlight a largely overlooked consequence of climate change: its growing impact on pregnant women and newborns.