Temperatures in India's capital soared to 52.3 degrees Celsius today (29 May), setting a new record for the highest temperature ever recorded in the country.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported "severe heat-wave conditions" and issued a red alert for Delhi, warning of dangerous heat levels.
The temperature was recorded by a station in the Delhi suburb of Mungeshpur. However, IMD meteorologist Soma Sen Roy stated that officials are verifying the accuracy of this recording.
This temperature broke the previous national record of 51C set in Rajasthan's desert in 2016.
The IMD's red alert warns of a "very high likelihood of developing heat illness and heat stroke in all ages," with extreme care needed for vulnerable individuals.
As residents sought relief, Delhi's electricity grid struggled with a record peak power demand of 8,302 megawatts.
City authorities also warned of water shortages and ordered teams to curb wastage.
The temperature was more than 11 degrees higher than expected.
Delhi, home to over 30 million people, is no stranger to high summer temperatures, but climate change is making heatwaves longer, more frequent, and more intense.
Residents are finding it difficult to cope.
Roop Ram, a 57-year-old snack seller, told AFP, "Everyone wants to stay indoors." Ram's family relies on a small fan for cooling, waiting for the monsoon rains in July.
Rani, 60, travels by bus each morning to sell jewellery on the streets. "It is definitely hotter, but there is nothing we can do about it," she said.
Authorities have warned of water scarcity as the capital swelters.
Delhi Water Minister Atishi said supplies were halved in some areas to boost flow to "water-deficient areas."
She ordered 200 teams to crack down on water wastage at construction sites and commercial properties.
Delhi relies heavily on water from neighbouring states Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
The highly polluted Yamuna river, which runs through Delhi, has a reduced flow during summer.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Pakistan also faced a heatwave, reaching 53C (127.4F) in Sindh province.
Pakistan's meteorological office expects temperatures to drop but warns of more heatwaves in June.
In addition, India's West Bengal and Mizoram states are recovering from a cyclone that hit India and Bangladesh, killing at least 65 people.
Bangladesh's Meteorological Department called it "one of the longest in the country's history," attributing it to climate change.
