Heatwave

A record peak demand of 271 GW in May underscores the growing impact of heatwaves, urbanisation and electrification, while raising fresh questions about grid resilience and energy planning

Study of garment factories across five states finds rising temperatures are hurting worker health, reducing productivity and disrupting output in apparel supply chains

Research at 10 facilities in four regions found high temperatures are impacting product quality, delivery reliability and contributing to higher employee absenteeism during the peak summer months

Hot and humid conditions prevailing during India's monsoon season could extend the duration of uncompensable heat stress of the summer season under a global warming of 2 degrees Celsius, a study has found. Findings published in the journal American Geophysical Union (AGU) Advances highlight a "surge of UHS (uncompensable heat stress) during the monsoon season (July-October) as the climate warms". Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar and the US' Stanford and Purdue universities said long-lasting uncompensable heat stress across both the seasons -- summer and monsoon -- could pose critical challenges to public health, labour productivity, and climate resilience in densely populated and vulnerable regions. Uncompensable heat stress occurs when one's body is unable to cool down through sweating or other mechanisms due to extreme heat and humidity. A sustained accumulation of heat can endanger human health, including causing heat-related illness, organ .

The IMD has warned of heatwave conditions over Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan as hot and dry weather regains strength across the region

About 75.78 per cent of Delhi's area remained heat-stressed for six or more years between 2015 and 2024, with a majority of construction sites, marketplaces and schools located in areas experiencing recurring extreme heat, according to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). The report, titled "Making Delhi Heat-Resilient: A Roadmap with the Focus on Vulnerable Groups", said that 98.72 per cent of Delhi's total area crossed the heat-stress threshold at least once during the decade. According to the study, 92 per cent of construction projects are located in areas where land surface temperatures crossed the 45 degrees Celsius threshold at least once between 2015 and 2024, while 77 per cent are in areas witnessing recurring extreme heat. About 84 per cent of the 643 mapped marketplaces, including major mandis, are situated in areas experiencing recurrent heat stress, while 76 per cent of mapped informal settlements housing nearly 1.32 million people are located in ...

As heatwaves intensify, India needs more funding for climate adaptation. But rising borrowing costs and debt burdens are making climate finance harder and more expensive to access

AI is moving beyond heatwave forecasts into urban planning, healthcare and power management, but experts warn gaps in data, governance and access still remain

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people to stay hydrated in view of soaring temperatures across the country. In his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat, he said people should take extra precautions when stepping out in the sun. "With temperatures soaring across much of the country, it is important to take extra care. Stay hydrated. If you need to step out in the sun, do so cautiously and take necessary precautions," he said. "Keep drinking water. Don't forget the guidelines issued by various government departments in this regard either," he said. Prime Minister Modi had on Wednesday last also urged citizens to take maximum precautions as the country is witnessing soaring temperatures, and said staying hydrated is key during such harsh weather. Modi also referred to the king of fruits, saying there is hardly a home where mangoes are not talked about in the summer season. He noted that every region has its own mango and its own aroma. "Hapus or alphonso of Maharashtra

India has expanded heat action plans and cooling pilots, but weak funding, uneven building-code enforcement and poor city data keep many responses in advisory mode

The shift comes as thunderstorm activity intensifies across north, east and central India under the influence of western disturbances and multiple cyclonic circulations

A field audit conducted by an NGO has flagged gaps in heatwave relief measures for homeless people and patient attendants outside government hospitals in Delhi, with many reporting lack of access to water, shelter and medical assistance during the ongoing summer conditions. According to the report released by Centre for Holistic Development (CHD) and its director Sunil Aledhia, all 35 vulnerable persons surveyed during the audit reported symptoms linked to heat-related illnesses while staying outside hospitals during the heatwave period. The report stated that 97.1 per cent of the surveyed people did not receive any medical screening, triage support or emergency assistance, while 85.7 per cent said they were unaware of official heatwave alerts issued by authorities. The NGO also claimed that only 20 per cent of respondents were able to access shelters run by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). It alleged that among those who accessed shelters, many reported lack of .

Water availability must become a core criterion in selecting industrial sites, urban planning, and agricultural incentives

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged all Union cabinet ministers to ensure that their respective ministries and departments take necessary steps to mitigate the impact of the prevailing heatwave conditions across the country. Addressing a media briefing after the cabinet meeting, Union Minister Ashvini Vaishnaw said the prime minister stressed the need for a "whole-of-nation" approach to deal with the extreme heat situation. Vaishnaw said the prime minister directed all ministries to take appropriate action to protect people from the heatwave, particularly departments such as health and water resources. "The prime minister said all ministries must take steps to protect people from the heatwave, especially ministries such as health and water resources, and consider what measures can be taken. He was clear that such major challenges should be addressed through a whole-of-nation approach, with the Centre, states and citizens working together," the minister said. Asked about

Indian cities are warming faster at night, turning homes into heat traps and exposing gaps in housing, planning and cooling access as AC demand rises

As extreme heat damages yields, quality and farm incomes without triggering formal crop failure, experts say India's insurance system is struggling to adapt to climate reality

The United Kingdom smashed a century-old temperature record for the second time in 24 hours on Tuesday as a spring heat wave scorches parts of Western Europe, triggering government warnings about risks to life. Several drownings were reported in Britain and France as people tried to cool down. A temperature of 35.1 degrees Celsius (95.2 degrees Fahrenheit) was recorded at London's Kew Gardens, Britain's Met Office weather service said, breaking the 34.8 C (94.6 F) record set a day earlier at Kew. The provisional readings smashed the long-standing record of 32.8 C (91.4 F) set in 1922 and matched in 1944. London also recorded a rare "tropical night", defined as one in which the temperature does not fall below 20 C (68 F). Records also fell in France, where temperatures reached 36 C (97 F) on Monday in the country's southwest and widely remained above 20 C at night. The national weather service, Meteo-France, said a "heat dome", with heat held in place by a high-pressure weather fron

Banda in Uttar Pradesh and Brahmpuri in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region recorded the country's highest maximum temperature at 47.6 degrees Celsius on Monday

Heatwave conditions to persist across several states till May 28, while Delhi-NCR may witness thunderstorms and cooler temperatures

As temperatures soar and electricity demand touches record highs, cities across India are witnessing frequent outages driven by ageing infrastructure and transmission constraints