Searing summer on the cards, all eyes on reservoirs, grain storage

Reservoir levels lower than last year but higher than 10-yr average; ample elbow room in grain storage for now

As several parts of India enter a long and dry summer, water levels in the country’s reservoirs and foodgrain storage are being closely monitored to ensure that irrigation, power generation, and — most critically — grain supplies do not wilt in the heat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week called for optimal grain storage, fire audits, and mock drills in hospitals as preparations for the harsh summer forecast by the meteorological department, and asked officials to track the water levels in reservoirs.

This is all the more vital given the grim projections of El Nino and its possible impact on