2024 Indian heat wave

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2024 Indian heat wave
2024 Indian heat wave is located in India
AreasIndia
Start dateApril 2024 – June 2024
Peak temp. 50.5 °C (122.9 °F), recorded at Churu, Rajasthan
Losses
Deaths219+
Hospitalizations40,000+

From April 2024 to June 2024,[1][2] a severe and long heat wave affected India.[3] The heat wave occurred during the Indian summer or pre-monsoon, which typically lasts from March to June, with peak temperatures in April and May. The year marked the third consecutive year of extreme heat waves in the country, a trend partly attributed to climate change.[1][2].

Churu district in Rajasthan recorded a temperature of 50.5 °C (122.9 °F), the highest in India in eight years.[4]. A temperature of 52.9°C was recorded in Mungeshpur, Delhi, and was initially thought to be record-breaking. However, it was later found to be approximately 3°C too high due to a faulty sensor.[5][6]

Casualties

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As of 3rd June 2024, there were a total of 219 deaths reported from the heat wave,[7] and 25,000 others suffered from heatstroke.[8] The deaths include 33 workers who were stationed on election duty during the seventh and last phase of the 2024 Indian general elections.[9] There were 147 reported deaths in the state of Odisha, and 12 more in Rajasthan.[7]

In Rajasthan, temperatures reached 50 °C (122 °F) in Churu, Sirsa and Phalodi, while Delhi's Mungeshpur, Narela and Najafgarh also neared 50 °C on 28 May.[10][11] There were more than twice as many heatwave days recorded in northwestern and eastern parts of the country than usual, mainly due to fewer non-monsoon thundershowers and warm winds blowing from neighbouring arid regions into India.[8] IMD data showed that Delhi recorded its warmest night ever at a minimum temperature of 35.2 °C (95.36 °F).[12]

Indian authorities reported over 40,000 cases of heatstroke through the country during the heat wave.[13]

Impact

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Due to the intense heat increasing water consumption and lowering river levels, New Delhi suffered a water crisis, requiring water tankers to be driven into distribution points in order to provide hydration to citizens whose taps ran dry.[14]

The intense, prolonged increase in temperature caused many manufacturing companies to lower working hours during the month of May, contributing to a national three-month low in the rate of increase in new orders.[15] Due to increased usage of electricity for cooling, the All India Power Engineers Federation warned of potential blackouts and loss of power on 18 June 2024.[16]

Measures and Preparedness Actions

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The NDMA and IMD are rolling out Heat Action Plans in 23 states, including early‑warning systems, district vulnerability maps and special guidance for outdoor workers.[17] The central health ministry has asked states to improve monitoring of heat‑related illnesses, strengthen reporting via the IHIP and train health‑care workers in diagnosing and treating heat‑illness.[18] Authorities introduced “heat‑stroke rooms” in hospitals for rapid‑cooling treatment and organised a whole‑of‑government approach to emergency cooling, but the scale of actual implementation remains uncertain.[19] In New Delhi, the 2025 Heat Action Plan includes installing about 3,000 water‑coolers across the city, shaded footpaths, “cool” roofs and special heat‑wave wards in hospitals.[20] Some states are using the State Disaster Mitigation Fund to build cooling shelters, upgrade infrastructure and set up early‑warning systems for heat.[21] During peak heat, some states also reduced outdoor working hours and set up rehydration stations in markets and public areas.[22]

References

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  1. ^ a b Ghosh, Sahana (17 May 2024). "India reels under a third straight year of severe heatwaves". Nature India. doi:10.1038/d44151-024-00071-1.
  2. ^ a b Shankar, Priyanka (3 September 2024). "The climate drivers behind southwest India's intensifying heat waves". Mongabay-India. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  3. ^ Jacob, Charmaine (14 June 2024). "In pictures: India records 'longest' heatwave, Delhi faces water crisis". CNBC. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Rajasthan's Churu records 50.5 degree celsius, becomes hottest city in India". Financialexpress. 28 May 2024. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  5. ^ Kaushik, Krishn (2 June 2024). "Delhi's record 52.9C temperature reading was wrong by three degrees, India says". Reuters. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Delhi weather station that recorded 52.9°C had '3°C sensor error': Union Minister". India Today. 1 June 2024. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  7. ^ a b "8 more Odisha, Rajasthan deaths push heatstroke toll to 219". Times of India. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Indian heatwave kills dozens over summer, media says nearly 25,000 fall ill". Reuters. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  9. ^ "India's deadly heat kills over 200 people, including dozens of poll workers as elections wrap up". The Independent. 3 June 2024. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  10. ^ Mufti, Ifrah (29 May 2024). "Delhi records highest-ever temperature of 52.9 Celsius, IMD issues red alert for Wednesday". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Heatwave alert: These Indian cities surpass 50 degrees Celsius in 2024". The Times of India. 30 May 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  12. ^ Stuti Mishra (21 June 2024). "Rise in night temperatures amid relentless heatwave leaves India sleepless". The Independent. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  13. ^ Patel, Shivam; Agarwala, Tora (19 June 2024). "India reports over 40,000 suspected heatstroke cases over summer". Reuters. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  14. ^ Zargar, Arshad R. (3 June 2024). "At least 50 deaths blamed on India heat wave in just a week as record temperatures scorch the country - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  15. ^ Dhoot, Vikas (3 June 2024). "Heatwave and poll effects drag factory output, new orders to 3-month low in May". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  16. ^ Dhillon, Amrit (18 June 2024). "Indian engineers warn of prolonged blackouts amid searing heatwave". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Unstarred Question No. 359: Deaths due to heat waves" (PDF). Ministry of Earth Sciences. 28 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Health ministry urges states to strengthen action plans against heat-related illnesses". Financial Express. 27 March 2025.
  19. ^ "Facing Record Number of Heatwave-Related Deaths – India Takes Closer Look at Prevention with Public Health Measures". Health Policy Watch. 12 June 2024.
  20. ^ "What Delhi govt's 2025 Heat Action Plan promises & what it misses". The Print. 24 April 2025.
  21. ^ "How Extreme Heat is Impacting India". Council on Energy, Environment and Water. 20 May 2025.
  22. ^ "Beating the heat? India's fight against heatwaves is on but without a long-term plan". The Economic Times. 12 June 2025.