New Delhi is suffocating, hit by a powerful heat wave. Two weather stations in India's capital, Narela and Mungeshpur, recorded a record temperature of 49.9°C on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. The highest temperature is also expected on Wednesday, according to weather forecasters. Last week, a temperature of 47.8°C was recorded in the capital on Monday 20 May, prompting authorities to close schools early for the summer holidays.

Extreme heat exacerbated by climate change

Last year, in May 2022, a temperature of 49.2°C was recorded in several areas of the capital. Scorching temperatures are common in India during the summer, but researchers say climate change is causing longer, more frequent and more intense heat waves. India's meteorological agency has warned the population about the impact of the heat on health, especially among the most vulnerable groups such as infants, the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases.

Also read: Recurring heat waves, extreme humidity… Will Pakistan and India be “uninhabitable”?

Actions against water shortages

In New Delhi, authorities warned of the risk of water shortages. In some places there has been a reduction in supply. Water Minister Atishi Marlena called “collective responsibility” residents to end the trash, the newspaper reported on Wednesday India Time.

To address this shortfall, the government has taken action “a series of actions”, he detailed according to I Indian Express , “such as reducing water supplies from twice a day to once a day in many areas.” “The water saved will be rationed and distributed to areas (that face) water shortages and whose supply only lasts 15 to 20 minutes per day,” he added.

Cyclone Remal devastated the northeastern part of the country and Bangladesh

In the country's northeast, the states of West Bengal and Mizoram were hit by strong winds and heavy rain accompanying powerful cyclone Remal. The disaster devastated India and Bangladesh on Sunday, killing more than 38 people. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, Remal is one of the longest cyclones the country has ever experienced. Climate change is the cause of this extraordinary duration, according to him.