A severe heatwave has gripped large parts of North India unusually early in the year, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a ‘yellow’ alert across several northern states. The alert, which indicates weather conditions that could be dangerous for vulnerable populations, underscores growing concerns about the intensifying impact of climate change.
According to the IMD, temperatures have crossed 40°C in multiple states, including Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. Western Rajasthan remains the worst affected, while scorching conditions persist in eastern Rajasthan, Saurashtra, and Kutch.
Delhi recorded its first heatwave of 2025 on Monday, April 7, with maximum temperatures hitting 40.2°C in several parts of the city. The IMD has extended its yellow alert for the capital for an additional two days, citing worsening conditions.
Climate Change Accelerates Heatwave Patterns
Heatwaves in India typically begin in late April or May, but this year they have arrived much earlier. IMD Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra noted that the frequency and duration of heatwaves are rising sharply due to climate change.
“From April to June, most regions in north, east, and central India, including the northwestern plains, are expected to witness two to four more heatwave days than the long-term average,” Mohapatra said.
The forecast also points to a surge in heatwave conditions across other states such as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Rising Human and Economic Costs
The early onset of extreme heat is already proving deadly. Between March and June 2024, at least 143 people reportedly lost their lives due to heat-related conditions, while around 42,000 suffered from heatstroke. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of fatalities, but many other northern states, including Delhi, saw severe impacts.
Outdoor workers and daily wage labourers bore the brunt of the extreme conditions. According to the 2024 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, India saw a 50% increase in lost labour hours due to high heat since the 1990s. In 2023 alone, this resulted in an estimated economic loss of $141 billion, $71.9 billion of which came from the agriculture sector.
Electricity Demand Surges as Temperatures Climb
A new report from global energy think tank Ember found that heatwaves drove a significant portion of India’s electricity demand spike in 2024. Power consumption between April and June 2024 rose by 10.4% over the previous year, with air conditioning usage alone responsible for nearly one-third of that increase.
Globally, extreme heat accounted for nearly a fifth of the rise in electricity demand in 2024, contributing to a 1.6% increase in power sector emissions. Total emissions from global power generation hit a record 14.6 billion tonnes of CO₂ last year.
In India, electricity usage during the April–September 2024 period was 6.1% higher than the same time in 2023. Ember attributed 19% of that rise directly to higher temperatures. During the hottest months, April to June, demand rose by 10.8%, with cooling alone responsible for over one-third of the year-on-year increase in May.
Although coal met 64% of the increased demand in 2024, this marks a decline from 91% in 2023. Clean energy sources supplied 33% of the additional demand, signalling a slow but notable shift.
India’s Cooling Challenge Ahead
India is projected to add 130 to 150 million new air conditioning units over the next decade, potentially increasing peak electricity demand by more than 180 gigawatts (GW) by 2035. This could put further strain on the power grid, especially during extreme heat events.
The share of household electricity usage has also grown from 22% in 2012–13 to 25% in 2022–23, driven largely by rising temperatures and increasing urbanization.
A study from the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development predicts that in a world 2°C warmer than pre-industrial levels, India will lead the world in cooling demand, followed by China, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Pakistan.
2024 Was Hottest Year on Record
The IMD has already confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded in India, echoing global temperature trends. Heatwave conditions began as early as February 27 last year, and the first official heatwave was recorded on April 5, earlier than in most previous years.
Experts warn that such early and prolonged heatwaves are becoming the new normal. A 2022 study estimated that the frequency of extreme heat events could increase tenfold during the 21st century, with more than 70% of India’s land area likely to be affected.
