A heatwave has gripped large parts of India with roads and markets emptying during afternoons and some farmers switching to night-time work to avoid scorching temperatures.
The India Meteorological Department forecast maximum temperatures on Thursday of around 45C in the capital, New Delhi, where authorities have opened temporary “cooling zones” to help people cope.
The weather department warned conditions will likely persist across several northern regions in the coming days, with temperatures staying well above seasonal averages. Authorities urged people to stay indoors during the hottest hours and take precautions against heat-related illnesses.
India declares a heatwave whenever temperatures are above 40C in the plains and 30C or more in its hilly regions.
The extreme heat has disrupted daily life across several northern states.
In some parts of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, roads and markets have closed in the afternoons as people stayed indoors while some traders shifted work to early mornings. Farmers began working at night because daytime conditions became unbearable.
The heat also disrupted schools, with authorities in several areas announcing early summer holidays and suspending classes as the maximum temperature shot up to 48.2C on Tuesday in the city of Banda.
Health authorities urged people to avoid going outdoors during peak afternoon hours, stay hydrated and seek medical help if they experience symptoms such as dizziness or high fever.
In New Delhi, residents and tourists sought relief from the heat inside cooling shelters set up across the capital. The shaded space provides air coolers, fans, drinking water and oral rehydration solutions to help people deal with the extreme heat.
Climate experts say India’s rising temperatures are part of a broader global pattern linked to climate change.
India has faced more frequent and intense heatwaves in recent years, with all of its warmest years on record occurring in the last decade.
Studies by public health experts found that up to 1,116 people have died every year between 2008 and 2019 due to heat.
Public health experts say the true number of heat-related deaths is likely to be in the thousands, but because heat is often not listed on death certificates, many deaths are not counted in official figures.