Large parts of north India, including Haryana and Delhi, are experiencing severe heatwave conditions, with temperatures soaring to extreme levels. On Monday, the national capital’s Najafgarh recorded the highest temperature in the country at 47.4 degrees Celsius.
The scorching heat has persisted, with temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius in significant areas of Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Uttar Pradesh. The intense heatwave has disrupted daily life, prompting many individuals to stay indoors during the afternoon hours.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported heatwave to severe heatwave conditions in many places over Haryana and Delhi. Some pockets of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and isolated pockets of Punjab, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh also experienced heatwave conditions. Temperatures in several parts of Delhi surpassed the 47-degree Celsius mark, prompting the weather office to issue a red alert for the next five days, cautioning of continued heatwave conditions in the national capital.
In response to the extreme weather, several state governments, including Delhi and Punjab, took precautionary measures. Schools were instructed to declare holidays, but online classes were provided to ensure continuity in education. The Delhi government directed schools to observe summer vacation from May 11 to June 30. Similarly, the Punjab government announced summer holidays in all schools from May 21 to June 30.
The searing heat also pushed Delhi’s peak power demand to its highest for May. Real-time data from the State Load Dispatch Center showed the peak power demand at 7,572 MW at 3:33 p.m., surpassing last year’s peak of 7,438 MW recorded on August 22.
In Rajasthan, the mercury soared to 46.3 degrees Celsius in Ganganagar, 46.1 degrees in Barmer, 45.8 degrees in Kota, 45.5 degrees in Churu, and 44.8 degrees in Bikaner. In Madhya Pradesh, Ratlam and Nowgong recorded 45.5 degrees Celsius, Datia 45.2 degrees, Khajuraho 44.8 degrees, and Gwalior 44.7 degrees. In Haryana, Sirsa recorded 47.2 degrees Celsius, Nuh 46.8 degrees, Faridabad 46.2 degrees, Jhajjar 45.9 degrees, and Bhiwani and Narnaul 45.7 degrees each. Chandigarh recorded a high of 43.2 degrees Celsius, while in Punjab, Amritsar recorded 44.5 degrees Celsius and Ludhiana 43.6 degrees.
The IMD declared heatwaves in parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, east Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, Saurashtra, Kutch, and Vidarbha, with warm night conditions expected in western Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan until May 25. The IMD also reported that hot and humid weather is likely to prevail over Konkan and Goa, Bihar, and Jharkhand for the next three days.
The burning heatwave
The IMD defines a heatwave as a condition where the air temperature becomes fatal to the human body when exposed. A heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature crosses 40 degrees Celsius in plains or 30 degrees Celsius in hilly regions, with a departure from the normal temperature of 4.5–6.4 degrees Celsius. A severe heatwave is declared when this departure is above 6.4 degrees Celsius for at least two days, or when the actual maximum temperature is 45 degrees Celsius or more for at least two days, and 47 degrees Celsius or more for a severe heatwave.
As the situation becomes more dire, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has provided safety and health guidelines for citizens. They advise planning the day wisely to avoid sun exposure during peak hours, staying hydrated, dressing in light, protective clothing, avoiding strenuous activities, and using measures to keep cool, such as drinking homemade rehydration solutions and using damp clothing.
With the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves attributed to climate change, similar conditions are expected to become more common. Leading climate scientists have indicated that such extreme heat events, which once occurred every 30 years, are now 45 times more likely.
