As India reels under heatwaves, several parts recorded hottest April in last 122 years

Guwahati, April 30: While heatwaves are common in India during May and June, this year summer began early with high temperatures from March itself.

Earlier the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has cautioned a gradual rise in maximum temperatures by 2-4C over most parts of north-western and central India this week, with "no large change thereafter".

The average maximum temperatures in the month of March in northwest and central India were the highest for the month of April in the last 122 years, as per IMD records.

The month-long heatwave across Asia is pushing temperatures in India and Pakistan above 110 degrees, with some areas hitting as high as 115 degrees.

Moreover, the temperatures are putting millions of people at health risk and causing power shortages, damaging crops and sparking wildfires.

As per reports, all India temperatures (maximum and mean) recorded till April 28, 2022, are the fourth highest with 35.05 degrees Celsius in last 122 years.

While March 2022 was the hottest, in northwest India the average maximum temperature for April 2022 was 35.90 degrees Celsius and 37.78 degrees Celsius for northwest and central India.

The Department further added that temperatures would continue to be above normal also in May.

Meanwhile, as heatwave gripped much of the country and a landfill site burned on Delhi's outskirts Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned of the risk of fires due to the rising temperatures.

Although investigations are underway to ascertain the cause of the fire in the landfill, it is a common phenomenon during India's scorching summers, when temperatures regularly surpass 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) before the monsoon rains bring relief.