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Record-breaking heatwaves in India typically occur between March and July, when the monsoon and rains arrive. However, in recent years, the situation has become increasingly severe, frequent, and prolonged.
India is considered one of the countries most severely affected by the climate crisis, according to the IPCC - the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) also argue that even if the world reduces carbon emissions and curbs global average temperatures, many areas in India will remain extremely hot and challenge human tolerance.
In its latest announcement, the Indian government stated that temperatures will rise by at least 4.5 degrees Celsius, exceeding normal levels for at least two days. This will be followed by another record-breaking heatwave with temperatures increasing by 6.4 degrees Celsius in two days.
In various regions across India, notably the capital New Delhi, temperatures are forecast to reach 45 degrees Celsius for two days.
Last year, India experienced approximately 484 heatwaves, a record number compared to the 21 heatwaves recorded in 2010. During that period, more than 5,000 Indians died. The number of heatwaves this year is predicted to be slightly lower.
In June, temperatures in Delhi reached 48 degrees Celsius, the highest recorded for that month. The Churu region in Rajasthan, west of the capital, nearly broke the record with a temperature of 50.6 degrees Celsius.
Bihar, India's poorest region, was forced to close all schools and training centers for five days after a heatwave killed more than 100 people. The closures were accompanied by warnings for people to stay indoors during the hottest days, as a large proportion of the Indian population relies on outdoor work for their income.
Weather forecasts suggest that the situation in India is getting worse.
In fact, the heatwave in India is not an isolated case. Many other places around the world are also experiencing various extreme heatwaves, including Spain, China, and Zimbabwe.
A report by researchers at MIT indicates that the world's average temperature will rise by 4.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century. A more optimistic scenario predicts a rise of 2.25 degrees Celsius. The concerning aspect is that both predictions exceed the commitment of a 2-degree Celsius increase by 2100, as set out in the Paris Agreement.
Another optimistic prediction is that no region in South Asia will exceed the regulated temperature threshold by 2100.
The Indian government has also put forward solutions, one of which is to add 500 gigawatts of renewable energy to the country's power system by 2030.
