Northern India and Pakistan scorched by relentless heatwave – DW – 06/12/2025
Blistering heat has swept across northern India and Pakistan as temperatures soared past 45°C (113F), triggering health warnings and power outages. Light rain is expected to bring relief on Thursday evening.
A severe heatwave held a grip on northern India and Pakistanon Thursday, with temperatures soaring above 45°C (113F) in major cities across both countries and prompting alerts from weather agencies on both sides of the border.
Heatwave warnings in northern Indian states
In Delhi, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) website showed an average temperature of 34°C at 8.30 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) on Thursday. However, the heat index, a measure combining temperature and humidity, calculated the "feels like" temperature to be 45.3°C.
The Hindustan Times newspaper reported Wednesday's temperatures between 40.9°C and 45°C across New Delhi, with the heat index peaking at 51.9°C.
"The severe heat is expected to persist till Thursday. A western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from the night of June 13, which may bring light rain and thunderstorms in Delhi," a senior IMD scientist Naresh Kumar told the Press Trust of India news agency, according to Hindustan Times.
The IMD has issued heatwave warnings across Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.
People working outside are particularly vulnerable to heatwaves Image: Arun Sankar/AFP
Power outages have been reported since Tuesday.
In contrast, many parts of southern India are bracing for heavy rainfall.
Pakistan expects hot and dry weather
Across the border, in Pakistan, temperatures soared to 49°C in Bhakkar in Pakistan's Punjab province and Jacobabad in Sindh, the Dawn newspaper reported.
The newspaper reported that the Pakistan Meteorological Department warned of continued extreme heat on Thursday saying "hot and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country, while very hot in plain areas."
In Punjab province hospitals were overwhelmed with heatstroke patients.
Many Pakistani cities also faced power shortages, leaving many without any relief, even as the heatwave is expected to continue for several more days.
Temperatures soar in Pakistan heat wave
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Possible health crisis in the making
Health officials in both countries reported a spike in heatstroke cases, especially among outdoor workers, the elderly, and children, media reports said.
Without immediate relief, officials in both countries warn the situation is escalating into a public health crisis.
Last year, a prolonged heatwave across parts of India claimed over 100 lives and resulted in more than 40,000 suspected heatstroke cases, according to health ministry data cited by AFP.
Edited by: Alex Berry
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Int'l Business Times
32 minutes ago
- Int'l Business Times
Millions In US Sweat Out First Extreme Heat Wave Of Year
A potentially life-threatening heat wave enveloped the eastern third of the United States on Monday impacting nearly 160 million people, with temperatures this week expected to reach 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius) in the New York metropolitan area. The country's first significant scorching heat of the year triggered health warnings as it arrived over the weekend. Dangerously high temperatures are forecast through Wednesday in Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston. "This extreme heat will not just be uncomfortable and oppressive for New Yorkers," warned Mayor Eric Adams, adding that each year heat claims the lives of 500 people in this city of eight million. "It's going to be brutal and dangerous if you do not treat it with the understanding that we want you to," he added. As sweltering heat baked the city, authorities urged seniors, people with health problems and those without air conditioning to stay hydrated and seek help at designated cooling centers such as libraries and recreation facilities. Heat records tumbled across parts of the US Northeast. In Central Park, known as the lungs of Manhattan, Monday's temperature of 96F (36C) tied a record that has stood since 1888, according to the National Weather Service. "Extreme Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories across much of the eastern third of the country (are) affecting nearly 160 million people" across at least 29 states, the NWS reported. "This level of HeatRisk is known for being rare and/or long duration with little to no overnight relief, and affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration," the agency warned. Meteorologists are describing the intensifying weather pattern as a heat dome, a high-pressure system that traps air and leads to steadily rising thermal readings. Extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the United States, leading to more fatalities than natural disasters like hurricanes or tornadoes. For many in the Big Apple, avoiding work in the searing heat was not an option. "We have to endure it, because otherwise what are we going to survive on?" Manuel, a manual worker repairing a building facade in New York's Harlem neighborhood, told AFP. "Sometimes we stop because it's a danger. We don't all have the same energy, but you have to endure," he added. In the Washington Heights neighborhood, authorities opened several fire hydrants so residents could seek relief with the gushing water. One of the local heroes was Ronald Marcelin, a 44-year-old air conditioning technician sweating profusely as he repaired a pizzeria's AC unit. "I'm taking the heat so that everyone else can cool down," Marcelin said with a grin. The soaring temperatures come just as New Yorkers head to the polls Tuesday -- with a forecast high of 102F (39C) -- for the Democratic primary that will decide the party's mayoral candidate. It promises to be a tight race between Andrew Cuomo, who is seeking political resurrection after resigning in disgrace as state governor in 2021, and rising left-wing star Zohran Mamdani. Over the weekend, Cuomo urged residents to cast their votes even if the temperatures hit triple digits. In Washington, the heat index -- what the temperature feels like with humidity factored in -- was forecast to soar as high as 110F (43C) on Monday, and the mayor's office urged residents to take advantage of cooling centers and public swimming pools. Scientists say extreme heat waves are a clear sign of global warming, and they are expected to become more frequent, longer, and more intense. Fueled by human-caused climate change, 2024 was the warmest year on record globally -- and 2025 is projected to rank among the top three. A woman drinks from a water bottle in New York City as an oppressive heat wave sends temperatures soaring across much of the eastern United States AFP Extreme heat has scorched US cities like the capital Washington, where a woman on the National Mall is seen trying to stay comfortable in the summer weather AFP
Int'l Business Times
16 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Beijing Issues Weather Warning For Hottest Days Of Year
Beijing residents sought shade and cooled off in canals on Monday as authorities issued the second-highest heat warning for the Chinese capital on one of its hottest days of the year so far. China has endured a string of extreme summers in recent years, with heatwaves baking northern regions even as parts of the south have seen catastrophic rain and flooding. Authorities in the city of 22 million people urged the public to take precautions, with temperatures expected to peak at around 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday. "It's been really hot lately, especially in the past few days," intern Li Weijun told AFP on Monday afternoon. The 22-year-old said he had stopped wearing formal clothes to work and delayed his daily exercise until after 10:00 pm to stay safe. "I think it's related to climate change, and maybe also to the damage done to nature," he said. An orange heat warning -- the second-highest in a three-tier system -- was issued on Monday as officials encouraged people to limit outdoor activity and drink more fluids to avoid heatstroke. Construction workers should "shorten the amount of time consecutively spent at labour", while elderly, sick or weakened individuals ought to "avoid excessive exertion", according to the guidelines. Zhang Chen, 28, said she carried an umbrella outdoors to prevent sunburn. "I used to ride a bike, but once it gets this hot, I basically stop doing that," the IT worker told AFP. Despite the beating sun, legions of delivery drivers zipped through downtown areas at noon to bring sustenance to Beijing's office workers. A few lazed on the backs of their scooters in a shady spot, while elsewhere, people cooled off with ice creams or by taking a dip in the city's canals. Beijing is still a few degrees short of breaking its record for the hottest-ever June day, set at 41.1C in 2023. Human greenhouse gas emissions are driving climate change that causes longer, more frequent and more intense heatwaves. China is the world's largest producer of carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas, though it has pledged to bring its emissions to a peak by the end of this decade and to net zero by 2060. The country has also emerged as a global leader in renewable energy in recent years as it seeks to pivot its massive economy away from highly polluting coal consumption. In a shady spot near an office building, 42-year-old Lucy Lu spent her lunch break with friends, kicking a shuttlecock through the air -- a traditional Chinese game known as "jianzi". "I was born and raised in Beijing, and summer here has always been like this," she said. "But I do think when the temperature goes over 40C, there should be some time off or work-from-home options to reduce the risk of heatstroke." Human greenhouse gas emissions are driving climate change and China is the largest producer of carbon dioxide AFP A woman wearing sun protective clothing crosses a street in Beijing on June 23, 2025. Beijing residents sought shade and cooled off in canals on June 23 as the Chinese capital sweltered in its hottest day of the year so far. AFP China has endured a extreme summers in recent years, with heatwaves baking the north while the south has seen catastrophic flooding AFP Beijing officials encouraged people to limit outdoor activity and drink fluids to avoid heastroke AFP
Int'l Business Times
5 days ago
- Int'l Business Times
Floods Expected After Hurricane Erick Makes Landfall In Western Mexico
Hurricane Erick made landfall in the western Mexican state of Oaxaca on Thursday, the US National Hurricane Center said, having weakened to a "major" Category 3 storm that is likely to cause massive flooding and landslides. The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 125 miles (205 kilometers) per hour as it hit just east of Punta Maldonado, the NHC said in a post on social media. By 1200 GMT, Erick was moving northwest at a speed of nearly nine miles (15 kilometers) per hour, and was expected to continue making its way inland over southern Mexico through the day. Heavy rainfall was expected to cause "life-threatening flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain" in Oaxaca and Guerrero states, the NHC said. A "life-threatening storm surge" was expected to cause coastal flooding near where the storm made landfall. "Erick is expected to rapidly weaken over the mountains of Mexico, and the system is likely to dissipate tonight or early Friday," the center's advisory added. Mexican authorities said they were also expecting heavy rain in southernmost state Chiapas. President Claudia Sheinbaum urged people to avoid going out and advised those living in low-lying areas or near rivers to move to shelters. In Acapulco, a major port and resort city famous for its nightlife, police with bullhorns walked the beach and drove around town warning residents and holidaymakers of the storm's arrival. Some shops boarded up their windows and operators of tourist boats brought their vessels ashore. Rainfall began in the late afternoon after a sunny day on Wednesday. About 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of Acapulco, the city of Puerto Escondido and its 30,000 inhabitants braced for the hurricane's effects. Restaurants were already closed despite tourists unwilling to give up their vacations, an AFP journalist noted from the scene. "They say it's going to hit this side of the coast, so we're taking precautions to avoid having any regrets later," Adalberto Ruiz, a 55-year-old fisherman sheltering his boat, told AFP. Laura Velazquez, national coordinator of civil protection, said the government was using patrols and social media to warn people. Some 2,000 temporary shelters have been set up in Chiapas, Guerrero and Oaxaca, and hundreds of troops and electricity workers have been deployed to help with any clean-up efforts. Local authorities have suspended classes and closed ports along the coast, including the port of Acapulco, to shipping. Mexico sees major storms every year, usually between May and November, on both its Pacific and Atlantic coasts. In October 2023, Acapulco was pummeled by Hurricane Otis, a powerful Category 5 storm that killed at least 50 people. Hurricane John, another Category 3 storm that hit Acapulco in September last year, caused about 15 deaths. Hurricane Erick strengthened to an "extremely dangerous" Category 4 early Thursday as it barreled toward Mexico's Pacific coast AFP People arrive at a school set up as a temporary shelter before Hurricane Erick hits Guerrero State, Mexico AFP
