New Delhi: Vast stretches of northern, central, and eastern India are reeling under an intense heatwave, with all of the world’s 50 hottest cities reportedly located in the country on Friday as temperatures surged beyond 40 degrees Celsius before noon in several regions.
Data from an air-quality and weather monitoring platform showed that Indian cities dominated the global list of the hottest locations at around 10:50 am IST. Balangir in Odisha emerged as the hottest city in the world, recording 45°C, while Chandrapur in Maharashtra and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh followed closely at 44°C. Several cities from Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Telangana, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh also featured prominently among the highest-temperature readings.
Uttar Pradesh accounted for more than half of the cities in the ranking, highlighting the scale of the heat crisis across the state. Cities such as Varanasi, Banda, Bareilly, and Ayodhya recorded temperatures between 42°C and 43°C before midday, signalling relentless and potentially dangerous conditions for residents.
The India Meteorological Department has warned that severe heatwave conditions are likely to persist across northwestern and central India throughout the week. Red and orange alerts have been issued in multiple states as authorities brace for prolonged extreme weather. The national capital, Delhi, is also experiencing sweltering conditions, with forecasts indicating temperatures could exceed 45°C in the coming days.
The worsening heat has raised concerns over public health, with reports pointing to an increase in cases of heat-related illnesses and sunstroke. Authorities have urged people to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, maintain adequate hydration, and limit non-essential travel during peak daytime hours.
With temperatures continuing to soar across large parts of the country, India is facing one of the most intense early-summer heat spells of the year, placing millions at risk from extreme weather conditions.