Large swathes of northwest India are facing a relentless heatwave that is expected to persist for another five days, posing a significant health risk and disrupting daily life.
The scorching temperatures, which have already broken records this season, are forecast to impact Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh the most.
On Friday, weather stations recorded alarming highs, with Najafgarh in west Delhi reaching a staggering 47.4 degrees Celsius, the hottest in the country so far this year.
This brutal heat comes as India grapples with general elections, raising concerns about a rise in heat-related illnesses amongst voters and campaign workers exposed to the sun for extended periods.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a stark warning, classifying the situation as a "severe heatwave" in the northwest plains for the coming week.
Eastern and central India can also expect scorching conditions, with a heatwave predicted for the next three days.
The IMD has implemented a colour-coded warning system to highlight the health risks. Red alerts have been issued for Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and west Rajasthan, indicating an urgent need for "extreme care for vulnerable people" such as children, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions.
Orange alerts signifying "high health concerns" are in place for east Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Climate experts warn that human-induced climate change is a major factor behind the increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves. "Climate Central," a US-based climate science group, estimates that over 543 million people in India will endure at least one day of extreme heat during the period between May 18th and 21st.
"This intense heat is much more likely due to human-caused climate change," said Andrew Pershing, Vice President for Science at Climate Central. "The high overnight temperatures make this event particularly alarming."
Heatwaves pose a serious threat to life, with the elderly and young children especially vulnerable to heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
The World Health Organisation estimates that heatwaves claimed over 166,000 lives globally between 1998 and 2017.
The scorching temperatures also have a detrimental impact on economies.
Extreme heat reduces productivity levels, even for those working indoors.
Children's learning abilities are also hampered in sweltering classrooms.
A 2022 study revealed that extreme heat resulted in a staggering USD 2.1 trillion equivalent loss in global labour productivity in 2017.
The severity of the current heatwave is evident in the recent temperature records.
On Friday, Najafgarh in Delhi and Sirsa in Haryana recorded highs of 47.4 degrees Celsius and 47.1 degrees Celsius respectively.
Previously, the hottest temperature recorded this season was 47.2 degrees Celsius in Kalaikunda, West Bengal, on April 30th.
The IMD defines a heatwave as a situation where the maximum temperature at a weather station reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains, 37 degrees Celsius in coastal areas, and 30 degrees Celsius in hilly regions, with a departure from normal exceeding 4.5 degrees Celsius.
A severe heatwave is declared when the departure from normal temperature climbs above 6.4 degrees Celsius.
This scorching spell follows a record-breaking April that saw exceptionally high temperatures across eastern, northeastern and southern India.
Government agencies issued health warnings, and some states were forced to suspend in-person classes to safeguard students.
Alarmingly, at least two heatstroke-related deaths were reported in Kerala during this period.
A recent study by the World Weather Attribution group highlighted the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves due to climate change.
The group suggests that similar heatwaves, previously occurring once every 30 years, are now 45 times more likely.
The scientists emphasised that these climate-intensified heatwaves pose a significant threat to vulnerable populations across Asia.
The IMD had previously cautioned about the possibility of extreme heat impacting India throughout the April-June period, coinciding with the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections that culminate on June 1st.
However, extreme heat conditions often occur during the pre-monsoon season (March to May) over India. Exposure to such conditions can induce dehydration, exhaustion, nausea, heat stroke and may lead to death in severe cases.
In general, senior citizens are more vulnerable to extreme temperatures and should take more precautions.
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