Intense heatwave has gripped the north India, with temperature soaring well above 45°C in many regions, prompting the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana The scorching heat, compounded by dry “loo” winds and unusually warm nights, has disrupted daily life, strained infrastructure and raised alarms over pub- lic health and agriculture in water-stressed areas. Sweltering heatwave conditions continue to tighten their grip over Delhi and Rajasthan.
The IMD has warned of persistently high temperatures across North- west India. According to the latest IMD updates, maximum temperatures in Delhi are hovering between 40°C and 44°C. With a yellow alert in effect, the IMD forecasts a further rise of 4-5°C in the coming days, potentially pushing temperatures by June 13-14. Conditions are even more extreme in Rajasthan, where several parts of West Rajasthan reporting high temperature.
The IMD report suggest blistering temperatures across several districts in northern states with Punjab’s Bathinda sizzling at 47.6°C, while Ludhiana touched 46°C. In Haryana, Sirsa recorded 46.5°C. Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, sweltered at 43°C, with the IMD warning of a further rise to 44–46°C in the coming days across southern and western pockets of both states. “Hot and dry loo winds are sweeping across Punjab and Haryana, and we do not expect any significant relief before June 15,” said Surinder Paul, Director of IMD Chandigarh.
The absence of rainfall and persistent north- westerly winds are fueling the extreme heat, he added. The intense heatwave has upended daily routines. In Chandigarh, authorities have urged residents to avoid going outdoors between noon and 3 PM. Several schools across the region have closed early or shifted to online classes to protect children from the sun. Farmers are among the hardest hit.
The heatwave has worsened existing water scarcity, posing a major challenge to crop health. With the paddy transplantation in both the leading rice producing states –was underway and the longer dry spell has hit the farmers hard as they rely on the ground water and spending on the diesel to pump out ground water amid deepening concerns about groundwater depletion.
Meanwhile, power demand has skyrocketed. Chandigarh reported record-high electricity consumption due to widespread use of cooling systems. Also in in Haryana, cities like Hisar, Rohtak, and Sirsa faced power outages as supply struggled to meet the surge in demand. Hospitals have reported an uptick in cases of heatstroke and dehydration. Health departments in cities like Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Faridabad are on high alert.
The IMD forecast indicates that the heatwave will persist in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Delhi, and parts of Uttar Pradesh until at least June 15. Some areas could see temperatures spike up to 48°C. Meanwhile, however, scattered rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds may bring marginal relief on June 15–16. Experts attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves to climate change. According to global research group Climate Central, human induced global warming has significantly raised the likelihood of such extreme weather events.