Heatwave grips India as record temperatures disrupt schools and close shops

• A severe heatwave is gripping large parts of India, with maximum temperatures forecast to reach around 45 degrees Celsius in Delhi and already hitting 48.2 degrees Celsius in some areas.
• The extreme heat has disrupted daily life, leading to roads and markets emptying in the afternoons, farmers switching to nighttime work, and schools announcing early summer holidays.
• Authorities have opened temporary 'cooling zones' in Delhi, providing air coolers, fans, drinking water, and rehydration solutions, while urging people to stay indoors and hydrated.
• The India Meteorological Department warns that these conditions are likely to persist across several northern regions, with temperatures remaining well above seasonal averages.
• Climate experts attribute India's rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves to human-made climate change, noting that up to 1,116 people have died annually due to heat between 2008 and 2019.

IN FULL

Indian city records 48.2C temperature as sizzling heatwave empties roads