Extreme heat grips northern India as power demand and health risks surge
A punishing heat wave pushed temperatures past 117 degrees Fahrenheit across parts of northern India this week, disrupting daily life and overwhelming the region’s fragile power and health infrastructure.
BiswaJeet Banerjee and Rajesh Roy report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Temperatures soared to 47.3°C (117°F) in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, with Delhi and other cities also facing severe heat, prompting warnings from the Indian Meteorological Department.
- The health ministry previously recorded over 100 deaths and 40,000 suspected heat stroke cases from last year’s heatwave, raising alarms about growing risks to vulnerable populations.
- Power grids in populous states like Uttar Pradesh buckled under record-breaking electricity demand as residents relied on fans and coolers during prolonged outages.
Key quote:
“We are seeing the worst of both heat and humidity. This is no longer just a matter of discomfort. It is becoming a public health emergency.”
— Atul Kumar Singh, senior scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre, Lucknow
Why this matters:
Heat waves are growing longer, hotter, and more frequent in India, fueled by climate change and rapid urbanization. These extreme events hit the poorest the hardest — outdoor workers, the elderly, and families in overcrowded housing often lack access to cooling or clean water. Power outages compound the danger, disabling fans, coolers, and health services. As cities like Delhi and Lucknow face both rising temperatures and unreliable infrastructure, the risks to public health become acute. Heat strokes, dehydration, and even death follow when bodies can’t cool down fast enough. While monsoon rains may bring relief in weeks, the expanding heat season signals a deeper crisis for one of the world’s most densely populated regions.
Related: Smartwatches and cool roofs help Indian neighborhoods battle deadly heat
