New Delhi: Large parts of north and central India continued to reel under an intense heatwave on Thursday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning that severe heat conditions are likely to persist through the week, raising concerns over public health, electricity demand and worsening weather stress.
In its latest advisory, the IMD said heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are expected to continue across northwest and central India over the coming days, while eastern parts of the country are also likely to experience intense heat for at least the next five days. Authorities have urged residents to take precautions as temperatures remain significantly above normal in several regions.
Uttar Pradesh emerged as one of the worst-affected states, with Banda district recording the country’s highest temperature at 48°C on Wednesday, around 4.5 degrees above the seasonal average. Several cities across north India have also witnessed prolonged spells of extreme heat, with daytime temperatures remaining well above the 40°C mark.
Delhi remained under heatwave conditions for the second consecutive day, with temperatures touching nearly 46°C in some parts of the national capital. The Ridge weather station recorded 45.8°C, making it the hottest location in the city, while other monitoring stations reported temperatures hovering around 45°C.
The weather office has issued orange alerts in several regions, warning of heat-related illnesses and urging people to limit outdoor exposure during peak afternoon hours. According to IMD norms, a heatwave is declared when temperatures cross 40°C and remain substantially above normal levels.
Experts attributed the prolonged heat spell to the absence of significant weather systems capable of bringing rainfall or cooler winds to affected regions.
The impact of the heatwave is also being felt in India’s energy consumption patterns. With households increasingly relying on air-conditioners, coolers and fans, the country’s electricity demand has surged to unprecedented levels.
India’s peak power demand touched a new all-time high of 265.44 gigawatts (GW) on Wednesday afternoon, marking the third straight day of record-breaking electricity consumption. The latest figure surpassed Tuesday’s peak of 260.45 GW, which had itself overtaken Monday’s record of 257.37 GW, according to official data from the Ministry of Power.
Amid the worsening heat, the IMD has advised people to remain hydrated, avoid stepping outdoors during peak afternoon hours between 12 pm and 4 pm, wear light cotton clothing and consume water-rich foods to prevent dehydration. Special caution has also been recommended for children, senior citizens and people with pre-existing health conditions.
With no immediate respite in sight, weather officials have warned that several regions could continue to experience oppressive heat through the week, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and putting additional pressure on power infrastructure
