Temperatures in several parts of Delhi surpassed 47 degrees Celsius on Monday, prompting the weather office to issue a 'red alert' for the next five days due to heatwave to severe heatwave conditions in the national capital.
The intense heat led to the city's highest peak power demand for May, and the Delhi government directed schools that have not closed for summer vacations to do so immediately.
Delhi has experienced a consistent rise in temperature, culminating in a record high of 44.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday. Saturday's temperature was 43.6 degrees Celsius, up from 42.5 degrees Celsius on Friday.
On Monday, the national capital recorded the second-highest maximum temperature, 3.7 degrees above normal.
Najafgarh recorded a high of 47.4 degrees Celsius on Monday, a day after the southwest Delhi area recorded 47.8 degrees Celsius—the highest in the country this season.
Mungeshpur recorded 47.1 degrees, Aya Nagar recorded 45.7 degrees, Pusa recorded 46.1 degrees, Pitampura recorded 46.6 degrees, and Palam recorded 45.2 degrees.
The intense heat is particularly difficult for low-income households, which often have limited access to water and cooling. It also puts a strain on those who have to go outside for work and other tasks.
The Delhi Directorate of Education issued a circular stating that all schools were instructed to have summer vacation from May 11 to June 30 for this academic year.
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