The India Meteorological Department has predicted that severe heatwave conditions will persist in parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and West Uttar Pradesh over the next five days. A ‘red alert’ has been issued for these regions, with daytime temperatures in several districts expected to exceed 47 degrees Celsius.

“Temperatures are currently above normal across North West India, and we have issued a ‘red alert’ for the region over the past two to three days,” senior IMD scientist Naresh Kumar informed news agency ANI.

“We have issued a ‘red alert’ in Rajasthan for the next five days, anticipating that the maximum temperature will rise from 45 degrees Celsius to around 47 degrees Celsius,” said senior IMD scientist Naresh Kumar. “In Punjab and Haryana, maximum temperatures have slightly decreased due to a western disturbance, but they are expected to gradually rise by two to three degrees. Consequently, we have issued a ‘red alert’ for these states as well. In Uttar Pradesh, a ‘red alert’ has been issued for the next five days, and an ‘orange alert’ has been declared for the northern parts of Madhya Pradesh,” Kumar added.

For the fifth consecutive day, a blistering heat wave has gripped large parts of India, impacting health and livelihoods. The weather office reports that the extreme heat will persist even in the lower hills of Himachal Pradesh, traditionally a refuge from the intense heat of the plains.

On Tuesday, temperatures soared above 45 degrees Celsius in many areas of Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Uttar Pradesh, disrupting daily life as many opted to stay indoors during the afternoon.

Parts of Gujarat suffered from the deadly combination of extreme heat and high humidity.

Haryana’s Sirsa recorded a scorching 47.8 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest place in the country on Tuesday.

In Delhi, temperatures fell slightly compared to previous days but were still three to five degrees above the seasonal average.

Officials reported that the peak power demand in the national capital reached an all-time high of 7,717 MW on Tuesday afternoon, driven by increased air conditioner usage in homes and offices.

As northern India continues to suffer from the intense summer heat, relief is expected in the southern regions.

The weather department has forecasted heavy to very heavy rainfall, with up to 12 cm expected in Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the next two to three days.