WilliamsLin216 at 21:49, 6 February 2026

2026-02-06T21:49:06Z

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{{Short description|Natural disaster}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox heat event
| title = 2024 Indian heat wave
| pushpin_map = {{Location map many
|India
|width = 240
|float = center
|caption =
|alt =
|relief =
|AlternativeMap =
|pushpin_map_caption= }}
| start_date = April 2024 – June 2024
| areas = India
| highest_temp_c = 50.5
| highest_temp_location = [[Churu district|Churu]], Rajasthan
| fatalities = 219+
| hospitalizations = 40,000+
}}

From April 2024 to June 2024,<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Ghosh |first=Sahana |date=2024-05-17 |title=India reels under a third straight year of severe heatwaves |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d44151-024-00071-1 |journal=Nature India |language=en |doi=10.1038/d44151-024-00071-1}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Shankar |first=Priyanka |date=2024-09-03 |title=The climate drivers behind southwest India's intensifying heat waves |url=https://india.mongabay.com/2024/09/the-climate-drivers-behind-southwest-indias-intensifying-heat-waves/ |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=Mongabay-India |language=en-US}}</ref> a severe and long [[heat wave]] affected [[India]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jacob |first=Charmaine |date=2024-06-14 |title=In pictures: India records 'longest' heatwave, Delhi faces water crisis |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/14/pictures-india-records-longest-heatwave-delhi-faces-water-crisis.html |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> 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 [[List of Indian heat waves|extreme heat waves]] in the country, a trend partly attributed to climate change.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

[[Churu district|Churu]] district in [[Rajasthan]] recorded a temperature of {{cvt|50.5|C|F}}, the highest in India in eight years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-28 |title=Rajasthan’s Churu records 50.5 degree celsius, becomes hottest city in India |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/rajasthans-churu-records-50-5-degree-celsius-becomes-hottest-city-in-india/3505391/ |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=Financialexpress |language=en |archive-date=29 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629150125/https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/rajasthans-churu-records-50-5-degree-celsius-becomes-hottest-city-in-india/3505391/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaushik |first=Krishn |date=June 2, 2024 |title=Delhi's record 52.9C temperature reading was wrong by three degrees, India says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-says-delhis-record-529-celsius-temperature-last-week-was-wrong-by-3-c-2024-06-01/ |access-date=June 29, 2024 |website=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-01 |title=Delhi weather station that recorded 52.9°C had '3°C sensor error': Union Minister |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/delhi/story/delhi-mungeshpur-record-high-temperature-2546684-2024-06-01 |access-date=2024-06-30 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=30 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630081343/https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/delhi/story/delhi-mungeshpur-record-high-temperature-2546684-2024-06-01 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Casualties==
As of 3 June 2024, there were a total of 219 deaths reported from the heat wave,<ref name="TOI"/> and 25,000 others suffered from heatstroke.<ref name="REUTERS">{{cite news|title=Indian heatwave kills dozens over summer, media says nearly 25,000 fall ill|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/heat-wave-kills-least-56-india-nearly-25000-heat-stroke-cases-march-may-2024-06-03/|date=3 June 2024|access-date=3 June 2024|publisher=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> The deaths include 33 workers who were stationed on election duty during the seventh and last phase of the [[2024 Indian general elections]].<ref name="ID">{{cite news|title=India’s deadly heat kills over 200 people, including dozens of poll workers as elections wrap up|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/india-heatwaves-deaths-election-2024-b2555692.html|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=3 June 2024|access-date=3 June 2024|archive-date=3 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603132740/https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/india-heatwaves-deaths-election-2024-b2555692.html|url-status=live}}</ref> There were 147 reported deaths in the state of [[Odisha]], and 12 more in [[Rajasthan]].<ref name="TOI">{{cite news|title=8 more Odisha, Rajasthan deaths push heatstroke toll to 219|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/8-more-odisha-rajasthan-deaths-push-heatstroke-toll-to-219/articleshow/110678504.cms|newspaper=[[Times of India]]|date=3 June 2024|access-date=3 June 2024}}</ref>

In [[Rajasthan]], temperatures reached {{cvt|50|C|F}} in [[Churu district|Churu]], [[Sirsa]] and [[Phalodi]], while Delhi's [[Mungeshpur]], [[Narela]] and [[Najafgarh]] also neared 50 °C on 28 May.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mufti |first=Ifrah |date=2024-05-29 |title=Delhi records highest-ever temperature of 52.9 Celsius, IMD issues red alert for Wednesday |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2024/May/29/delhi-records-highest-ever-temperature-of-499-celsius |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=16 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240616093154/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2024/May/29/delhi-records-highest-ever-temperature-of-499-celsius |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-05-30 |title=Heatwave alert: These Indian cities surpass 50 degrees Celsius in 2024 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/heatwave-alert-these-indian-cities-surpass-50-degrees-celsius-in-2024/articleshow/110551491.cms |access-date=2024-06-29 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=29 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240629150125/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/heatwave-alert-these-indian-cities-surpass-50-degrees-celsius-in-2024/articleshow/110551491.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> 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.<ref name="REUTERS"/> IMD data showed that Delhi recorded its warmest night ever at a minimum temperature of 35.2 °C (95.36 °F).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stuti Mishra |date=2024-06-21 |title=Rise in night temperatures amid relentless heatwave leaves India sleepless |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/india-heatwaves-2024-night-temperatures-delhi-b2566414.html |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>

Indian authorities reported over 40,000 cases of heatstroke through the country during the heat wave.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Patel |first1=Shivam |last2=Agarwala |first2=Tora |title=India reports over 40,000 suspected heatstroke cases over summer |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/unrelenting-heatwave-kills-five-indian-capital-2024-06-19/ |access-date=20 June 2024 |work=Reuters |date=19 June 2024}}</ref>

==Impact==
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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zargar |first=Arshad R. |date=2024-06-03 |title=At least 50 deaths blamed on India heat wave in just a week as record temperatures scorch the country - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/india-record-heat-wave-temperatures-deaths-mount-delhi-water-crisis/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dhoot |first=Vikas |date=2024-06-03 |title=Heatwave and poll effects drag factory output, new orders to 3-month low in May |url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/heatwave-and-poll-effects-drag-factory-output-new-orders-to-3-month-low-in-may/article68245520.ece |access-date=2024-06-03 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dhillon |first1=Amrit |title=Indian engineers warn of prolonged blackouts amid searing heatwave |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/18/india-engineers-blackouts-heatwave-north |access-date=19 June 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=18 June 2024}}</ref>

== Measures and preparedness actions ==
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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Nov 28, 2024 |title=Unstarred Question No. 359: Deaths due to heat waves |url=https://moes.gov.in/sites/default/files/RS-English-359-28-11-2024.pdf |website=Ministry of Earth Sciences}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 27, 2025 |title=Health ministry urges states to strengthen action plans against heat-related illnesses |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/health-ministry-urges-states-to-strengthen-action-plans-against-heat-related-illnesses/3790292/? |work=Financial Express}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 12, 2024 |title=Facing Record Number of Heatwave-Related Deaths – India Takes Closer Look at Prevention with Public Health Measures |url=https://healthpolicy-watch.news/hundreds-die-in-indias-record-breaking-heatwaves-despite-warnings-and-urgent-advisories/ |website=Health Policy Watch}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 24, 2025 |title=What Delhi govt’s 2025 Heat Action Plan promises & what it misses |url=https://theprint.in/environment/what-delhi-govts-2025-heat-action-plan-promises-what-it-misses/2601632/? |work=The Print}}</ref> Some states are using the State Disaster Mitigation Fund to build cooling shelters, upgrade infrastructure and set up early‑warning systems for heat.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 20, 2025 |title=How Extreme Heat is Impacting India |url=https://www.ceew.in/publications/mapping-climate-risks-and-impacts-of-extreme-heatwave-disaster-in-indian-districts? |website=Council on Energy, Environment and Water}}</ref> During peak heat, some states also reduced outdoor working hours and set up rehydration stations in markets and public areas.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 12, 2025 |title=Beating the heat? India’s fight against heatwaves is on but without a long-term plan |url=https://m.economictimes.com/news/india/beating-the-heat-indias-fight-against-heatwaves-is-on-but-without-a-long-term-plan/amp_articleshow/121804738.cms? |work=The Economic Times}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Heat wave|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Indian heat wave, 2024}}
[[Category:2024 heat waves]]
[[Category:2024 disasters in India|Heat wave]]
[[Category:Heat waves in India|2024]]
[[Category:May 2024 in India]]
[[Category:June 2024 in India]]

2024 Indian heat wave - Revision history

WilliamsLin216 at 21:49, 6 February 2026