India is currently facing one of the most prolonged and intense heatwaves in its recorded history, with multiple regions experiencing scorching temperatures above 45°C (113°F). This extreme weather event, stretching from March into May 2025, has brought everyday life to a halt in several states, exacerbated existing vulnerabilities, and sparked a public health emergency.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), May is expected to register 2–7 heatwave days across a wide belt of India, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Bihar. In Rajasthan’s Barmer district, temperatures soared to 46.4°C in early April—one of the highest ever recorded in that month. Even hilly regions like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have recorded unusually warm days, signaling a larger shift in regional climate patterns.
The consequences have been severe. Health departments across affected states are overwhelmed with rising cases of heatstroke, dehydration, and cardiovascular incidents. The working poor, particularly outdoor laborers and farmers, are bearing the brunt, with limited access to cooling systems and proper hydration. Educational institutions have been forced to alter schedules, and several state governments have urged citizens to remain indoors during peak daylight hours.
India’s agriculture, which employs over half of the population, is also under serious threat. Premature ripening of wheat and mango crops has led to lower yields and financial losses. In states like Punjab and Haryana, a fall in soil moisture and increased evapotranspiration are affecting planting cycles. This could contribute to food price inflation, impacting the urban and rural poor alike.
Scientists and climatologists attribute this pattern to human-induced climate change. According to a joint study by the IMD and World Weather Attribution, global warming has made heatwaves in India 30 times more likely and 1.5–2°C hotter than a century ago. Urban heat island effects—caused by concrete-heavy infrastructure—have worsened temperature spikes in cities like Delhi, Jaipur, and Lucknow.
The government is responding with emergency relief measures, such as deploying mobile water tanks, setting up cooling shelters, and issuing daily health advisories. However, experts argue that long-term adaptation strategies are essential. This includes redesigning cities to include more green spaces, investing in heat-resilient crops, and creating early-warning systems with local dissemination capabilities.
With the climate crisis accelerating, India’s current heatwave is a sobering indicator that such extremes may become the new norm rather than an exception.