Child Dies in Car as India Bakes in Extreme Heat

Large swathes of India are enduring punishing heatwave conditions, with temperatures soaring across multiple states. Banda in Uttar Pradesh recorded a scorching 48.2 degrees Celsius, making it one of the hottest locations. The extreme heat has had fatal consequences, as a four-year-old girl died in Indore, suspected to have succumbed to suffocation after being trapped in a car for several hours.

Northern states like Punjab and Haryana are also experiencing intensified heat, with cities like Faridkot and Rohtak recording temperatures nearing 47 degrees Celsius. Delhi, too, is under an orange alert for heatwave to severe heatwave conditions, with temperatures breaching the 45-degree mark. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) defines a heatwave when maximum temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius and are 4.5 to 6.4 degrees above normal.

The nationwide surge in cooling device usage has propelled India's peak power demand to an unprecedented 260.45 GW. Delhi alone saw its highest demand of the season at 7,776 MW. These intense conditions are expected to persist for at least another week, with no immediate forecast of thunderstorms or rainfall to offer relief in many affected areas.

Several regions, including the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, are under orange alerts for severe heatwave conditions, with temperatures consistently in the 45-46 degree Celsius range. While Himachal Pradesh has issued yellow warnings for heatwaves and thunderstorms in specific districts, the overall situation remains critical across the country.