Recently, the northern and central plains of India have been experiencing persistent extreme heatwaves. The temperature in the state of Bundanad reached as high as 48.2°C, while the temperature in the capital, New Delhi, reached 45°C. New Delhi also experienced one of the hottest May nights in nearly 14 years this week, with the lowest temperature reaching 32.4°C, which is 5.7°C higher than normal.
According to some institutional data, among the top 100 cities with high temperatures globally, India accounts for 95–98 of these cities over the entire year.
This heatwave in India began at the end of April. Although it didnt reach the high temperatures of 45°C seen in mid-May, Lu Jiayi, a Chinese student studying her first year of graduate studies at Nehru University in New Delhi, also experienced one of the hottest periods of her life.
At the end of April, the forecast was 40-43°C. The dormitory was even hotter than the outside. Lu Jiayis dormitory didnt have air conditioning; there were only electric fans. The room was very small and poorly ventilated. There was only one window without any screen. Whenever we opened the window, mosquitoes would bite me.
In mid-April, some local residents were already sleeping along the Hangang River. (Video screenshot taken by Lu Jiayi)
During the time she stayed in the dormitory, there were no power outages or network failures. However, the fans that kept running all night emitted hot air, making it feel like her internal organs were boiling. Apart from taking showers, she had to rely on plenty of ice water to cool herself down. There was a water dispenser at the entrance of her dormitory where she could get one liter of ice water. She would go there four or five times per night.
During the day, since the air conditioning in the classrooms was not very effective, Lu Jiaoyi often chose to bring her computer along to coffee shops. She could only go to those chain coffee shops. Ordinary local coffee shops dont even allow people to sit in areas with air conditioning. The places where people work are very crowded and hot.
Lu Jiayi is from Shaanxi. Although she has experienced temperatures of up to 40°C in China, the heat in India seems a completely different concept to her. These intense hot days lasted for about half a month. I really couldnt bear it anymore, so I decided to return to my country. At that time, it was summer break at school. She had planned to stay in India to shoot some footage, but her physical discomfort forced her to give up. All my classmates from China have returned to their countries, and those from Shaanxi have also gone elsewhere to escape the heat.
In fact, such extreme temperatures are not new to India. In May 2024, the highest temperature in New Delhi reached 49.9°C. In other parts of India, temperatures of 50°C have indeed been recorded.
The highest temperature recorded in Indian history was 51°C, which was recorded in Paldhi, Rajasthan, in the north region, in 2016. This year, Indias temperature of 48.2°C failed to make it into the top 20 on the list of hottest temperatures in the past 10 years.
Additionally, India has a clear distinction between dry and rainy seasons. In the months leading up to the rainy season, from June to August, it becomes the hottest period. During this time, temperatures exceeding 45°C are quite common.
In mid-May, the subtropical high-pressure system in West Asia intensified and expanded eastward, covering the entire territory of India. This system reached its strongest around May 19th. The high-pressure system caused air currents to act like a lid over India, preventing hot air from escaping and cold air from entering. This is what people refer to as the hot dome effect.
Additionally, Indias geographical location also makes this country unable to cool down. There is direct sunlight in the tropical and subtropical regions, while the Tibetan Plateau prevents the spread of hot air and the entry of cold air. Moreover, the Ganges Plain has a basin-like terrain that helps to retain heat.
According to some institutional data, among the top 100 hot cities worldwide, India accounts for 95–98 of these cities on a regular basis.
According to data from the International Energy Agency, as of 2024, India, with a population of over 1.4 billion people, only has 94 million air conditioners available. This means that the penetration rate is less than 10%.
Even with air conditioning, its not guaranteed that it will be functional. By 2025, over 70% of states in India are forced to implement rotating power outages. According to media reports, there are as many as 14 power outages per month in India, with each outage lasting between 2 and 12 hours.
Anita, a Chaplin who does business in Genoa, told reporters from Cover News that the temperatures in her region arent as extreme as those in the north. The outdoor temperature can reach 40°C, but life is still relatively normal here. There are occasional power outages in the urban areas, with some areas experiencing longer interruptionsup to about 2 hours. However, people with low incomes are reluctant to install air conditioners. For those who consume less than 100 kWh of electricity per month, there are no electricity charges.
Water supply is also a challenge. According to reports in The New Indian Express on May 28, as the main water source for New Delhi, the level of the Yamuna River has been declining continuously. The water level at the Waziristan River dam is far below normal levels. Haryana, which is located near the capital region, has rushed to provide additional water supplies. However, due to limitations in the water delivery pipelines, the water supply shortage will remain difficult to alleviate in the short term.
Due to insufficient water levels, two major water treatment plants in the area can only operate below their capacity. This has led to a significant decrease in water supply. Water shortages have occurred in many residential areas and hospitals in the Delhi region. Local council member Ali Muhammad Ikbar said, The shortage of water has persisted for nearly 25 days, and the situation is completely out of control.
Lu Jiayi still remembers vividly the scenes she witnessed in Varanasi in mid-April this year: In order to enjoy the cool weather, some locals simply slept on the streets and along the Ganges River.
The Indian Meteorological Department has previously issued high-temperature warnings for several regions, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab.
The Indian Meteorological Department announced on June 3 that rainfall will occur in Karnataka, and weather conditions will become more moderate. The likelihood of heatwaves in the first week of June has significantly decreased.
Reporter Wu Bingqing
