India sizzles at 45°C as IMD sounds heatwave alarm across multiple states
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, April 19, 2026: A severe heatwave has begun sweeping across large parts of India, with temperatures soaring up to 45°C in several regions, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue heat and weather warnings.
According to official data, cities such as Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh and Wardha in Maharashtra recorded the highest temperature at 45°C, making them the hottest locations in the country. Other regions, including Ratlam and Umaria in Madhya Pradesh, also witnessed extreme heat nearing 44°C.
The IMD has warned that heatwave conditions are likely to intensify in the coming days, particularly across eastern and central parts of the country. States such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand, and parts of central India are expected to remain under severe heatwave conditions.
In contrast, the national capital New Delhi experienced unusual weather patterns. The city recorded 19 mm of rainfall in 24 hours at the Palam observatory—its highest April rainfall in 14 years. While temperatures are expected to remain stable for the next few days, meteorologists predict a gradual rise of 2–3°C thereafter, pushing temperatures above seasonal averages.
The IMD has also issued warnings of hot and humid conditions in southern coastal regions, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and coastal parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Meanwhile, parts of northwestern India, including Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh, are likely to witness light rainfall and snowfall. Thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds and lightning have also been forecast for eastern states such as Bihar and sub-Himalayan regions.
Weather experts attribute this contrasting pattern to multiple cyclonic circulations and an active western disturbance influencing different parts of the country simultaneously—leading to extreme heat in some areas and rainfall in others.
Authorities have advised citizens to take precautions against heat exposure as the country braces for a prolonged spell of extreme weather.