Delhi suffers record heatwave as temperatures soar near 50C

India’s capital region of Delhi has suffered through a record-breaking heatwave this week as temperatures soar near 50C and scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating alarming conditions in the world’s most populous country.

The capital region, home to more than 30mn people, recorded all-time high temperatures of more than 49C this week. The high daytime temperatures brought activity including construction work to a halt and prompted authorities to ration water in order to control the strain on resources.

The heatwave has spread across India, with nearby states Haryana and Rajasthan registering temperatures higher than 50C. A weather station in Delhi reported a maximum temperature of 52.9C on Wednesday, though the India Meteorological Department later clarified that the reading might have been an error.

Scientists have warned that increasingly extreme summer heat has become a public health hazard in India, routinely exposing large numbers of people in the country of 1.4bn to risks such as heatstroke and even death.

While regions including Delhi have introduced heat action plans to improve early warning systems and manage the effects of extreme heat, analysts said far more investment was needed to mitigate the health and economic impacts of rising temperatures. The majority of Delhi’s households do not have air conditioning, for example.

“This is like wartime,” said Abhiyant Tiwari, an India-based climate analyst at the non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council. “We need to work on this issue throughout the year to better prepare our systems and our policies.”

A report this month from the World Weather Attribution research group, a collaboration between academics and scientists, found that extreme temperatures in south Asia were 45 times more likely to occur due to climate change.

A separate study published this year in the journal Environment International estimated that 1,116 deaths could be attributable to heatwaves annually across 10 major cities in India.

This year’s heat has coincided with India’s six week general election, with daily rallies often held in sweltering conditions. The final phase of voting will take place on June 1 in states including Punjab, where temperatures are expected to remain above 40C. Final nationwide results are due on Tuesday.

In Delhi, which voted amid acute heat last weekend, authorities warned that the region was facing a water shortage and accused neighbouring Haryana of restricting water supply from the Yamuna river.

Atishi Marlena, Delhi’s water minister, announced that officials would from Thursday impose fines of Rs2,000 ($24) on construction sites illegally using domestic water supplies and on residents using hoses to wash cars.

“I appeal to all Delhiites that we should not think only about ourselves,” she said. “We should think about everyone.”

Graphics by Jana Tauschinski and Steven Bernard

Climate Capital

Where climate change meets business, markets and politics. Explore the FT’s coverage here.

Are you curious about the FT’s environmental sustainability commitments? Find out more about our science-based targets here