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A punishing heatwave persisted across northern and central parts of India for the sixth straight day on Saturday, with temperatures surging beyond 45 degrees Celsius in numerous locations. The hilly regions of the north were also not spared, with unusually high temperatures raising concerns over environmental risks. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), maximum temperatures soared over 5.1°C above the seasonal average in areas of Himachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya, while isolated parts of sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim also faced significantly warmer conditions.

Temperatures in Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir were similarly higher than normal, news agency PTI reported. Meteorologists caution that sustained heat in the mountainous belts may accelerate glacial melting, potentially triggering glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and increasing the risk of forest fires.

Rajasthan remained among the worst-affected states, with Sri Ganganagar and Churu both recording maximum temperatures of 46.5°C—5°C and 4.1°C above the norm, respectively.

In Uttar Pradesh, Prayagraj touched 45°C, followed closely by Kanpur at 44.9°C. Ghazipur was the outlier, registering 44.5°C—6.3°C above the usual levels. In Madhya Pradesh, Hoshangabad hit 45.2°C, while Khajuraho (44.7°C), Nowgong (44.6°C), and Gwalior (42.5°C) also reported intense heat.

Delhi’s Heat Index Breaches Dangerous Mark

The national capital was gripped by oppressive heat, with Aya Nagar and Palam recording maximum temperatures of 42.2°C and 42°C, respectively. Delhi’s heat index surged to a hazardous 53.8°C, making outdoor conditions unbearable. For the uninitiated, the heat index is a measure of how hot it feels when humidity is factored in.

Elsewhere in north India, Rohtak in Haryana recorded 44.3°C. In Punjab, Patiala reported 42.6°C, while Amritsar logged 42°C. Chandigarh, too, experienced hot weather with temperatures reaching 42.2°C.

This year’s relatively milder May—attributed to an early monsoon onset and frequent thunderstorms in parts of the northwest and central regions—gave way to a sharp rise in temperatures following a significant drop in rainfall since early June, as per PTI's report. Widespread heatwave conditions have been prevailing since June 8–9.

Even parts of the hill states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir have seen higher-than-usual temperatures in recent days.

The IMD’s extended forecast indicates that the monsoon is likely to progress further into central and eastern India, and some regions of the northwest, by June 18. It is expected to cover most of northwest India between June 19 and June 25.

An IMD official said that Delhi may receive monsoon showers by June 22 or 23—well ahead of the typical onset date of June 30, PTI reported.

Typically, the southwest monsoon enters Kerala by June 1, reaches Mumbai by June 11, and envelops the entire country by July 8. It begins retreating from northwest India around September 17, completing withdrawal by October 15.

Heatwave Toll On Health And Livelihoods

Extreme temperatures are hitting vulnerable populations the hardest, particularly low-income households with limited access to cooling or water. Outdoor workers, children, and the elderly remain at heightened risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

According to data cited by PTI, Indian hospitals reported nearly 48,000 heatstroke cases and 159 deaths due to extreme heat last year alone. Between 2015 and 2022, the National Crime Records Bureau recorded 8,171 fatalities due to heat outside hospitals.

Additionally, Health Ministry data accessed by PTI revealed 3,812 heat-related deaths occurred in hospitals during the same period.

However, experts caution that the real numbers may be significantly higher due to inconsistencies in death reporting and the challenges involved in directly attributing deaths to heat exposure.