Trending Now - India's Scorching Heat Forces Farmers to Adapt Their Schedules
WHO:
ABC News - Anjal Prakash, author of several United Nations climate reports and professor of public policy at Pune-based Flame University, commented on India's rising temperatures.
ABC News - Basharat Ahmad Malla, a 25-year-old tourist, expressed his experience in a cooling shelter.
WHAT:
ABC News - India declares a heat wave whenever temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the plains and 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in hilly regions.
ABC News - Health authorities urged people to seek medical help if they experience symptoms such as dizziness or high fever due to the extreme heat.
ABC News - The India Meteorological Department forecast maximum temperatures of around 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) in New Delhi on Thursday.
ABC News - Authorities in several areas announced early summer vacations and suspended classes due to extreme heat, with the maximum temperature reaching 48.2 degrees Celsius (118.8 Fahrenheit) in Banda on a Tuesday.
ABC News - A heat wave has gripped large parts of India, causing roads and markets to empty during afternoons.
ABC News - The India Meteorological Department forecast maximum temperatures of around 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) in New Delhi.
ABC News - The maximum temperature reached 48.2 degrees Celsius (118.8 Fahrenheit) in Banda.
ABC News - Authorities in several areas announced early summer vacations and suspended classes due to extreme heat.
Kottke - Banda, India’s hottest district, becomes deserted after 10 AM as temperatures breach 48 degrees Celsius.
WHERE:
ABC News - New Delhi, India, where temporary “cooling zones” have been opened.
ABC News - Banda, a city in Uttar Pradesh state, India, noted for extreme temperatures.
ABC News - Uttar Pradesh state, India’s most populous state, where roads and markets have closed in the afternoons.
WHEN:
ABC News - The heat wave conditions are expected to persist across several northern regions in the coming days.
ABC News - The maximum temperature in Banda was recorded on a Tuesday.
WHY:
ABC News - The extreme heat has disrupted daily life across several northern states, prompting some traders to shift work to early mornings.
ABC News - The extreme heat has disrupted daily life and prompted farmers to switch to nighttime work to avoid unbearable daytime conditions.
ABC News - Climate experts attribute rising temperatures in India to a broader global pattern linked to climate change.
ABC News - Studies indicate that up to 1,116 people have died every year between 2008 and 2019 due to heat, with the true number likely in the thousands.
HOW:
ABC News - Inside cooling shelters in New Delhi, officials distributed cups of water mixed with rehydration salts to help people cope with the heat.
ABC News - In New Delhi, residents and tourists sought relief from the heat inside cooling shelters, which provide air coolers, fans, drinking water, and oral rehydration solutions.
ABC News - Authorities have opened cooling shelters in New Delhi, providing air coolers, fans, drinking water, and oral rehydration solutions to help people cope with the heat.
ABC News - Health authorities have urged people to stay indoors during peak afternoon hours and to stay hydrated.
(UPDATED May 21, 2026 16:12 UTC)
India has declared a heat wave as temperatures soar above 40 degrees Celsius in the plains and 30 degrees Celsius in hilly regions, prompting health authorities to advise anyone experiencing symptoms like dizziness or high fever to seek medical help. In response to the extreme heat, officials in New Delhi are providing cooling shelters where they distribute cups of water mixed with rehydration salts to help residents cope. This initiative aims to support those affected by the rising temperatures and ensure their well-being during this challenging weather.
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(UPDATED May 21, 2026 10:11 UTC)
The India Meteorological Department has forecast maximum temperatures of around 45 degrees Celsius, or 113 degrees Fahrenheit, in New Delhi on Thursday, while Banda has already recorded a staggering 48.2 degrees Celsius, which is 118.8 degrees Fahrenheit, prompting authorities to announce early summer vacations and suspend classes. This extreme heat has disrupted daily life across several northern states, leading some traders to shift their work hours to the cooler early mornings. In New Delhi, residents and tourists are finding relief from the sweltering temperatures in cooling shelters that offer air coolers, fans, drinking water, and oral rehydration solutions.
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(UPDATED May 21, 2026 08:16 UTC)
A severe heat wave is currently affecting large parts of India, with temperatures soaring to a staggering 48.2 degrees Celsius in Banda, prompting authorities to announce early summer vacations and suspend classes. Anjal Prakash, a climate expert, has highlighted that these rising temperatures are part of a broader global trend linked to climate change, while tourists like Basharat Ahmad Malla are seeking refuge in temporary cooling shelters set up in New Delhi. As conditions are expected to persist in the coming days, health officials are advising the public to stay indoors during peak hours and remain hydrated to cope with the extreme heat.