India endures record-breaking heat wave as temperatures hit 52.3°C

India Faces Unprecedented Heat Wave with Temperatures Soaring to 52.3°C

Dinesh Gupta/AP Photo

India has declared a severe heat wave as temperatures in New Delhi soared to an unprecedented 52.3 degrees Celsius (126.3 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, marking the second consecutive day of record-breaking heat for the country.

The India Meteorological Department has warned that "severe heat-wave conditions" are expected to continue in multiple regions. However, they anticipate that temperatures will begin to decline in central and northwest India by Thursday.

On Tuesday, three people succumbed to heat stroke in Rajasthan, a state already known for holding the national record for high temperatures. That day, temperatures reached 49.9 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit).

In response, local authorities have implemented water usage restrictions, imposing fines equivalent to $24 for activities that consume large amounts of water, such as washing cars.

A heat wave in India is officially declared when the maximum temperature is 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius (40.1 to 43.52 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal. A severe heat wave alert is issued when temperatures rise at least 6.5 degrees Celsius (43.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above average.

Scientists attribute this summer's extreme temperatures in Asia to the exacerbating effects of human-driven climate change.