The northern plains of India are experiencing a new intense heatwave: temperatures in New Delhi are expected to reach up to 45 °C on Thursday, authorities have opened cooling centers and issued warnings to the public.
Authorities in the capital have opened temporary heat relief centers equipped with fans, air coolers, drinking water, and oral rehydration solutions to help residents and tourists cope with the extreme heat. Medical professionals have advised people to stay indoors during the hottest hours of the day and seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as dizziness or high fever.
The Indian Meteorological Department has warned that extreme temperatures are expected to persist in the coming days, particularly in the northern plains.
The extreme weather has disrupted daily life in several states, including Uttar Pradesh, where some roads and markets are closed in the afternoon due to unbearable daytime heat. In Banda city, the maximum temperature reached 48.2 °C at the beginning of the week, prompting local authorities to suspend classes in schools and announce early summer vacations in several districts. Farmers in some rural areas are shifting their work to nighttime to avoid being in the sun during the day.
Climatologists note that heatwaves have become more frequent and intense in India over the past decade, reflecting a broader trend of global warming. According to meteorological data, all the hottest years in the history of observations in the country have occurred in the last ten years.
