A severe heatwave has tightened its grip across North and Central India, pushing temperatures to dangerous extremes and prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue urgent public health alerts valid through April 28, 2025. The crisis is unfolding across multiple states simultaneously, exposing millions of citizens — particularly the elderly, outdoor workers, and children — to life-threatening heat stress.

Delhi and Prayagraj Record Season-High Temperatures

New Delhi recorded its highest temperature of the season on Saturday, April 26, with the mercury touching 44.5 degrees Celsius — significantly above the seasonal average of around 36–37°C for late April. By Sunday, temperatures remained stubbornly above 40 degrees Celsius, confirming persistent heatwave conditions across the capital.

Several Delhi neighbourhoods also reported scorching hot winds (loo), a characteristic feature of intense heatwaves in the Indo-Gangetic plains. Authorities have placed the city under a 'yellow alert', the first formal tier in India's colour-coded weather warning system, signalling the need for vigilance.

In Uttar Pradesh, Prayagraj emerged as the hottest city in the state, recording a maximum of 45.2 degrees Celsius — the highest temperature logged in the state so far this season. The state government has issued a severe heat alert across 32 districts, underscoring the geographic breadth of the crisis.

IMD Warning: States on High Alert Until April 28

The IMD has forecast that heatwave conditions will persist across Northwest and Central India until April 28. The most severely affected states include Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, where temperatures are expected to hover between 40 and 45 degrees Celsius.

In Central India, states such as Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra are also experiencing extreme heat conditions. The IMD has further warned that heatwave-like conditions may soon extend southward, potentially affecting Kerala and the union territory of Mahe in the coming days — an unusual development that signals a broader atmospheric disruption.

Health Advisories and Precautions Issued

The IMD and health authorities have issued a series of advisories urging citizens to minimise heat exposure. Residents are strongly advised to avoid direct sunlight between 12 noon and 3 p.m., the peak heat window, and to stay hydrated by drinking water regularly — even in the absence of thirst.

Authorities recommend wearing light-coloured, loose-fitting cotton clothing and using protective accessories such as hats, umbrellas, and sunglasses when venturing outdoors. Outdoor workers are specifically advised to keep a damp cloth on the head and neck to manage body temperature.

A strict warning has been issued against leaving children or pets inside parked vehicles, which can turn into death traps within minutes under extreme heat. Experts caution that vulnerable populations — including the elderly, infants, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing conditions — face the highest risk of heatstroke and heat exhaustion.

Deeper Context: A Pattern of Worsening Summers

This heatwave is not an isolated event. India's summers have been intensifying progressively, with the IMD and global climate agencies repeatedly flagging the subcontinent as one of the world's most heat-vulnerable regions. April 2024 similarly saw dangerous heat spells across North India, and 2023 recorded one of the hottest pre-monsoon seasons in decades.

Notably, the urban heat island effect in cities like Delhi and Lucknow amplifies ground-level temperatures beyond what official weather stations record, meaning actual felt temperatures in densely populated localities can be several degrees higher. This structural vulnerability disproportionately impacts daily wage workers, street vendors, construction labourers, and slum residents who have no access to air conditioning or cool shelters.

Critics and urban planners have long argued that India's heat action plans — while existing on paper in several cities — remain poorly funded and inconsistently implemented. The absence of adequate public cooling centres, shaded rest zones, and employer-mandated outdoor work restrictions during peak heat hours leaves millions unprotected.

What to Expect Next

With the IMD's alert window extending to April 28, residents across the affected states should prepare for at least two to three more days of intense heat before any potential relief. Meteorologists indicate that a western disturbance may bring marginal temperature relief to parts of Northwest India post-April 28, but no significant rainfall is anticipated in the near term.

If current atmospheric patterns hold, May 2025 could see even more extreme temperatures, as it typically marks the peak of India's pre-monsoon heat season. Public health systems in affected states must urgently scale up preparedness to prevent heat-related fatalities — a number that, historically, India has significantly undercounted.