97 of the world’s 100 hottest cities are in India as heatwave intensifies

India reeled under an intense heatwave on Friday, with 97 of the world’s 100 hottest cities located across the country as temperatures soared beyond 45 degrees Celsius in several regions by afternoon. Large parts of northern, central and eastern India remained under severe heat stress, prompting health advisories and raising concerns over dehydration, heatstroke and water shortages.

Data from AQI.in at around 2:50 pm IST showed Odisha’s Balangir topping the global heat chart at 48 degrees Celsius. Sasaram in Bihar also recorded 48 degrees Celsius, while Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh touched 47 degrees Celsius. Dry weather conditions worsened the impact, with humidity levels in several cities remaining between 6 and 8 per cent.

Apart from three cities in Nepal — Dhangadhi, Nepalgunj and Lumbini Sanskritik — every location in the global top-100 hottest cities list was from India. Several cities across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand reported temperatures between 44 and 46 degrees Celsius.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast heatwave to severe heatwave conditions across Delhi and several northern states between May 22 and May 27. The weather office classifies a heatwave when temperatures in plains cross 40 degrees Celsius and remain significantly above normal, or when temperatures reach 45 degrees Celsius.

The extreme weather has begun affecting public health systems in multiple states. Andhra Pradesh has reported more than 300 suspected heat-related illness cases between March and mid-May, including hundreds of suspected heatstroke cases. Hospitals in several regions are also witnessing increased cases of dehydration, diarrhoea and exhaustion.

Authorities in several states have advised people to avoid outdoor movement during peak afternoon hours, particularly between 11 am and 4 pm. Water shortages have also surfaced in parts of Gujarat as rising temperatures continue to strain daily life and infrastructure.

Earlier this week, Banda in Uttar Pradesh reportedly recorded the highest temperature in the country this year at 48 degrees Celsius.