Northern India is grappling with an unrelenting, weeks-long heatwave, with temperatures in New Delhi soaring to a national record of 52.3 degrees Celsius (126.1 Fahrenheit), according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD reported “severe heatwave conditions” and recorded the unprecedented temperature in Mungeshpur, a New Delhi suburb, on Wednesday afternoon, surpassing the previous national record set in Rajasthan’s Phalodi town, which hit 51C (124F) in 2016. India declares a heatwave when temperatures exceed 45C (113F).
This brutal weather has led to school closures in several cities and heightened the risk of heatstrokes for outdoor workers. The extreme heatwave coincides with a six-week general election, increasing health risks for people standing in long lines to vote, with the voting period ending on Saturday.
The soaring temperatures are also endangering animals, with risks of dehydration and heatstroke. In Bikaner, Rajasthan, conservationist Sitaram noted that endangered chinkaras, or Indian gazelles, are suffering from a water shortage. April, May, and June are typically hot in most parts of India before the monsoon rains bring relief. However, extreme heat is increasingly becoming a public health crisis, with rising temperatures over the past decade often accompanied by severe water shortages.
