India has just experienced its second-hottest quarter from June to August since 1970, according to a report by Climate Central, a US-based group of climate scientists and communicators. The report highlights that over one-third of the country’s population faced at least seven days of dangerous heat during this period.
The analysis indicates that climate change significantly increased the likelihood of high temperatures, making extreme heat events three times more probable on 29 days throughout these months. Approximately 20.5 million Indians endured high temperatures for at least 60 days, while around 426 million people, nearly one-third of the population, experienced dangerous heat conditions exceeding typical local highs from 1991 to 2020.
Several cities were severely impacted, with Thiruvananthapuram, Vasai-Virar, Kavaratti, Thane, Mumbai, and Port Blair each facing over 70 days of temperatures heavily influenced by climate change. Mumbai alone recorded 54 days of extreme heat. Notably, Kanpur and Delhi experienced average temperatures above 39°C for extended periods, with climate change making these extremes four times more likely.
Andrew Pershing, Vice President for Science at Climate Central, emphasized that these high temperatures posed significant health risks globally. Vaibhav Pratap Singh from the Climate and Sustainability Initiative pointed out the increasing severity of climate-related events like floods and droughts in India, urging the need for assessments on how different levels of global warming affect various sectors.
This year’s extreme weather is attributed to a combination of human-induced climate change and the ongoing El Niño phenomenon. The summer of 2024 saw India recording 536 heatwave days—the highest in 14 years—with the northwestern region experiencing its warmest June since records began in 1901. Official data reported over 41,000 suspected heatstroke cases and at least 143 heat-related deaths during this unprecedented heatwave.
The intense heat has strained water supply systems and power grids across the country. In Delhi, temperatures exceeded 40°C for 40 consecutive days starting May 13, leading to severe water shortages and around 60 reported heat-related fatalities this year. As India grapples with these extreme temperatures, experts warn that without urgent action to address climate change, such conditions are likely to become more frequent and severe in the future.
