Extensive regions of northern and central India experienced severe heatwave conditions on Tuesday, with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius in Churu, Rajasthan, and Sirsa, Haryana. Meanwhile, the national capital faced scorching temperatures, with the mercury soaring nine degrees above the seasonal norm.
At least three weather stations in Delhi recorded maximum temperatures of 49 degrees Celsius or higher, with Mungeshpur and Narela reaching 49.9 degrees, followed by Najafgarh at 49.8 degrees, marking the highest recorded temperatures in the capital this season. However, Mungeshpur and Narela's weather stations were established in 2022 and only have data for the past three years, PTI reported.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that there would be no immediate relief from the heatwave for at least the next two days. However, a fresh western disturbance is anticipated over northwest India on Thursday, potentially bringing isolated rainfall over the weekend.
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IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra attributed the heatwave to the absence of Western Disturbances in late May. These disturbances, extra-tropical weather systems originating from the Mediterranean Sea, typically move eastward. "Today, heatwave to severe heatwave conditions prevailed over most parts of Rajasthan, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, in many parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and in isolated pockets of Bihar and Himachal Pradesh," the IMD said.
Heatwave conditions in many areas of Vidarbha, some areas of Jammu and Kashmir, and a few isolated areas of Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh.
Churu in Rajasthan marked the hottest place in the country with the maximum temperature touching 50.5 degrees Celsius followed by Sirsa-AWS in Haryana (50.3), Mungeshpur, and Narela (49.9), Najafgarh (49.8), Sirsa (49.5), Ganganagar in Rajasthan (49.4), Pilani and Phalodi in Rajasthan and Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh (49).
Over the next few days, the weather office predicted that warm nighttime conditions in isolated pockets will likely prevail over Uttar Pradesh, East Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi.
Severe Heatwave Causes Water Scarcity And Power Demand
Due to the scorching heat, the Haryana government advanced summer vacations in both state-run and private schools to Tuesday. The heatwave has strained power grids and created water shortages in various regions.
According to the Central Water Commission, water storage in 150 major reservoirs in India plummeted to 24 percent of their live storage capacity last week, aggravating water scarcity and impacting hydropower generation.
The Maharashtra irrigation department reported that the water stock in Jayakwadi dam in Marathwada stood at a mere 5.19 percent of its capacity on Monday due to evaporation loss caused by the heat.
The intense heat has propelled India's power demand to 239.96 gigawatts, the highest recorded this season, with increased usage of air conditioners and coolers. Experts expected that power demand may surpass the all-time high of 243.27 GW recorded in September 2023.