Delhi experiences a historic heatwave with temperatures soaring to a record-breaking 49.9 degrees Celsius (121.8 Fahrenheit), leading to concerns about severe water shortages in the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued reports of extreme heatwave conditions on Tuesday, with the highest temperatures recorded in the suburbs of Narela and Mungeshpur, surpassing the normal by nine degrees.
With similar conditions anticipated for Wednesday, authorities issued a red alert, urging the city’s over 30 million residents to take precautionary measures. This surpasses the previous record set in May 2022, where parts of Delhi reached 49.2 degrees Celsius (120.5 Fahrenheit).
Read more: Karachi Anticipates Scorching Weather With 40°C Temperature
Climate change research suggests that heatwaves are becoming more intense, frequent, and prolonged, exacerbating concerns over water scarcity. In response, water supply in some areas has been reduced from twice to once daily to conserve resources, according to Water Minister Atishi Marlena.
The IMD warns of health risks associated with the heatwave, particularly for vulnerable groups such as infants, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses. The extreme temperatures are attributed to hot winds from Rajasthan, which recorded the country’s highest temperature at 50.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.
In addition to the heatwave, parts of West Bengal and Mizoram are grappling with Cyclone Remal, resulting in heavy rains, strong winds, and numerous fatalities since Sunday. The severity of the cyclone is linked to climate change, according to meteorological authorities in Bangladesh.
