The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): India continues to endure an intense heat wave, with temperatures soaring to 49 degrees Celsius in Phalodi, Rajasthan—the highest recorded in the country this year. The sweltering heat has gripped northwest India and parts of the central region, with at least 23 places in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh experiencing temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius or above on Friday.
The extreme heat is expected to persist in parts of Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, west Uttar Pradesh, and west Madhya Pradesh until May 28. This means thousands of voters may face scorching temperatures as they step out to vote in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday. Approximately 11.43 crore people are eligible to vote in the sixth phase, covering 58 seats across eight states and Union territories.
In Rajasthan, Phalodi recorded a maximum temperature of 49 degrees Celsius on Friday, with Jaisalmer and Barmer reaching 48.3 degrees and 48.2 degrees, respectively. Maharashtra’s Akola and Jalgaon registered 45.8 degrees and 45.4 degrees. In Madhya Pradesh, Ratlam and Rajgarh recorded highs of 46.2 degrees and 46.3 degrees. Haryana’s Sirsa hit 45.4 degrees, Punjab’s Bathinda 44.8 degrees, and Gujarat’s Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar both recorded 45.5 degrees.
The Meteorological Department issued a ‘red’ warning for Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, west Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat, highlighting a “very high likelihood” of heat illness and heatstroke in all age groups. The department also warned that warm night conditions could further exacerbate heat-related stress in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan over the next four days. High night temperatures are dangerous as they prevent the body from cooling down, a situation worsened by the urban heat island effect, which makes metro areas significantly hotter than their surroundings.
The relentless heat is straining power grids, drying up water bodies, and triggering drought-like conditions in parts of the country. The Central Water Commission reported that water storage in 150 major reservoirs in India dropped to its lowest level in five years last week, worsening water shortages in many states and significantly impacting hydropower generation. The water levels in the Delhi stretch of the Yamuna River have also dropped, affecting the water supply. The city saw power demand reach a record 8,000 megawatts on Wednesday, with air conditioners, coolers, and refrigerators running at full capacity.
Severe and frequent heat waves are further burdening low-income households, which often have poor access to water and cooling. The situation is testing the endurance of outdoor workers, who are forced to take frequent breaks to cope with the searing sun. Anna Walnycki of the International Institute for Environment and Development highlighted that low-income households have limited capacity to adapt to extreme heat due to poor access to water and electricity, as well as inadequate ventilation and shelter in informal housing.
Experts warn that outdoor workers, the elderly, and children are at higher risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. According to the World Health Organization, over 1,66,000 people died due to heat waves between 1998 and 2017. India reported 3,812 heat wave-related deaths between 2015 and 2022, with Andhra Pradesh alone accounting for 2,419 fatalities.
The extreme heat also affects productivity and learning, with studies showing that students perform worse in tests during hot school years. Shyamal Santra of the NGO Transform Rural India noted that 15 percent of government schools in India lack functional electricity, and many are single-classroom schools, making heat waves disproportionately affect rural educational outcomes.
In the absence of adequate cold-chain infrastructure, extreme heat can cause significant damage to fresh produce. Studies estimate that India faces food losses worth USD 13 billion annually, with only four percent of fresh produce covered by cold chain facilities.
A World Bank report predicts that India could account for 34 million of the projected 80 million global job losses from heat stress-associated productivity decline by 2030. With 75 percent of workers in India experiencing heat-related stress, rising heat and humidity could lead to a loss of up to 4.5 percent of India’s GDP (approximately USD 150-250 billion) by the end of the decade, according to a report by the McKinsey Global Institute.
