New Delhi. This year, severe heat is being seen all over India. The rising temperature has troubled people. Even in the evening, it is as hot as afternoon. At least 50% of north-west India like Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan are experiencing perhaps the most intense heat ever.

This heat wave in North, East and North-West India is terrible as the temperatures are unusually high during night time.

The temperature was the highest since 1951

Scientists and doctors say that the rising temperatures during the day and night time have created conditions that put extreme heat stress on the body, especially for those who do not have air conditioners or coolers. This is further aggravated by the lack of availability of cold water. For example, in many areas of Delhi, people are getting abnormally hot water day and night.

The data shows that more than half of northwest India has recorded maximum temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius (°C) or above on almost all of the last 33 days (the period between May 16 and June 17). This is the highest 40°+ temperature since 1951 for most parts of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

Nearly half of Gujarat (about 44% of the state's area) and more than a third of Uttar Pradesh (34% of the state's area) are also facing the worst heat since 1951.

Prolonged heat recorded in one-fourth of the region

In almost a quarter of the country's area (24%), this year the longest-lasting heat period has been recorded. It is among the top 10 in 32% of the area, and among the top 20 in 40% of the country's area.

Of course, this is when 37% of the country's area has either never reached temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius in the period between May 16 and June 17, or has not reached it this year.

If we exclude this region, more than 25% of India has experienced maximum days with temperatures above 40°C this year.

Due to the day temperature, there is severe heat even at night

IMD Director General M Mohapatra said, the day temperature is very high. So naturally the nights are not that cold. If the maximum temperature is between 45-46 degrees Celsius, you cannot expect the night temperature to be normal.

Dr Sumit Ray, critical care specialist and medical director at Holy Family Hospital, said, "We are seeing a rise in heat-related cases. There was a slight decrease after the temperature dropped last month, but now there is a rise again. We are seeing mainly two types of people coming to us - young people with heat-related conditions who were working outside in the heat and elderly people who are more sensitive to the heat."

Analysis of maximum temperatures shows that the weather remained warm over most parts of northern plains, with many places over Rajasthan, Haryana, northern Madhya Pradesh and southern Uttar Pradesh not registering a single day when maximum temperature was below 40°C.

Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh witnessed heatwave for six days between May 18 and May 31 and 14 such days till June 17 this month. It also recorded its highest ever temperature of 48.8 degrees Celsius on May 28.

According to the IMD's daily heatwave data, western Uttar Pradesh has recorded 26 heatwave days since March 2024, while eastern UP has recorded 22. Delhi and Haryana have also recorded 23 heatwave days, most of them in the past one month.