As authorities warn of water shortages in the sprawling megacity, temperatures in the capital of India, New Delhi, soared to a record high of 49.9 degrees Celsius, 121.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), which reported “severe heat-wave conditions”, recorded the temperatures on Tuesday at two Delhi suburbs stations at Narela and Mungeshpur.
The temperature was nine degrees warmer than expected, the weather department reported.
Forecasters are forecasting the same temperatures for New York City, which is expected to reach over 30 million people on Wednesday and issue a red alert warning them to take care.
According to the Indian media at the time, parts of Delhi reached 49.2 degrees Celsius, 120.5 degrees Fahrenheit, in May 2022.
The heat of the summer is nothing new for India. However, years of scientific research show that climate change is increasing the duration, frequency and intensity of hot weather.
The New Delhi authorities, too, have warned about the risk of water shortage as a capital city swelters in hot weather and curtailes supplies to certain areas.
The Times of India newspaper reported on Wednesday that Indian Water Minister Atishi Marlena is calling for a “shared responsibility” in the fight against waste water.
“We have taken a number of measures to address water scarcity in many areas, such as reducing the amount of water delivered from two times per day to one,” Atishi added.
“In areas where water supply is only 15 to 20 minutes a day, the water saved will be rationed and supplied,” she said.
The IMD warned that the hot weather had an impact on health, particularly for children, older people and those with chronic illnesses.
Many attribute the high temperatures to hot winds in Rajasthan state, where Tuesday’s temperature of 50.5 degrees Celsius was the country’s highest.
The country’s all time hottest temperature was 51 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan’s desert region of Phalodi in 2016.
At the same time, West Bengal state and the northeastern state of Mizoram have been struck by gales and lashing rains from Cyclone Remal, which hit India and Bangladesh on Sunday, killing more than 38 people.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department said the storm was the longest in the country’s history, blaming climate change for the change.
