Some Delhi men escaped the heat of the day by resting in the shade of trees
© AFP/Money SHARMASome Delhi men escaped the heat of the day by resting in the shade of trees
India is wilting under a heatwave, with the temperature in places reaching 50 degrees Celsius and the capital enduring its hottest May day in nearly two decades.

The hot spell is projected to scorch northern India for several more days, the Meteorological Department said late Tuesday (May 26), "with severe heat wave conditions in isolated pockets".

As global temperatures rise, heatwaves are a regular menace in the country - particularly in May and June. Last year dozens of people died.

Met officials said Churu in the northern state of Rajasthan was the hottest place on record on Tuesday, at 50 Celsius, while parts of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh sweltered in the high 40s.


Parts of the capital, New Delhi, recorded the hottest May day in 18 years with the mercury hitting 47.6 Celsius.

No deaths have been reported so far this year, but last year the government said the heat had killed 3,500 people since 2015.
There have been fewer fatalities in recent years.

The country of 1.3 billion people suffers from severe water shortages with tens of millions lacking running water.

Parts of Delhi and elsewhere regularly see scuffles when tankers arrive to deliver water. Last year Chennai made international headlines when the southern city ran out of water entirely.

Source: AFP/nh