The national capital continued to endure an intense heatwave on Thursday, with several areas recording maximum temperatures above 43 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Ayanagar emerged as the hottest location in the city, hitting a high of 45.0°C, while Palam followed closely at 44.5°C. Other parts of Delhi also reeled under searing heat, with Ridge recording 43.6°C, Lodhi Road 43.4°C, and Safdarjung 43.3°C.
Earlier this week, the IMD had issued heatwave warnings for Delhi-NCR, cautioning that temperatures could surpass 45°C in isolated pockets. An orange alert was issued for June 10 and 11, followed by a yellow alert for June 12 and 13.
“Most of northwest India, especially the plains including Delhi-NCR, is likely to experience heatwave conditions for the next four days,” IMD scientist Akhil Srivastava said. “We expect temperatures to remain above 45°C in parts of Delhi today and tomorrow.”
Relief, however, may be on the horizon. The IMD forecasts light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (up to 50 kmph) across parts of North India, including Delhi, around June 14.
Meanwhile, other regions also reported punishing temperatures. Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan recorded the country’s highest temperature at 48.0°C. Severe heatwave conditions were reported in West Rajasthan, with parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, South UP, and NW Madhya Pradesh also affected.
The IMD expects no major change in maximum temperatures over Northwest and Central India for the next three days, followed by a gradual decline of 2–4°C.
On Tuesday, IMD official Radheshyam Sharma noted that Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, and Bikaner in Rajasthan were experiencing severe heat, with temperatures hovering above 47°C and the heatwave expected to persist for another three to four days.
As Delhi waits for relief, authorities continue to advise residents to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, and take necessary precautions during peak afternoon hours.
