Delhi Hits Record 52.3°C Amid Severe Heatwave

Temperatures in India's capital Delhi soared to a national record-high of 52.3 degrees Celsius, according to government weather data, as authorities warned of dangerous heat levels in the megacity.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported "severe heat-wave conditions" after the scorching temperature was recorded by a station in Delhi's Mungeshpur suburb in the afternoon, though meteorologists cautioned they were verifying the reading.

The reading not only breached the 50C mark in Delhi for the first time, but surpassed India's previous national record of 51C set in Rajasthan's desert in 2016 by over 1C.

The IMD issued a red alert health notice for Delhi's estimated over 30 million residents, warning of a "very high likelihood" of heatstroke for all ages and urging "extreme care" for vulnerable people.

As residents sought relief, Delhi's electricity grid crumbled under record peak power demand of 8,302 megawatts. City authorities also warned of dire water shortages and ordered teams to clamp down on wastage.

The extreme heat, over 11C above normal on the second day of intense temperatures, highlighted the impacts of climate change causing more severe and frequent heatwaves in India.

Street vendors said there was little they could do but wait for monsoon rains in July, staying indoors as much as possible. "I am not sure what else we can do to cope," said one.

Delhi has halved water supplies in many areas to prioritize "water-deficient" zones and deployed 200 teams to stop commercial properties tapping domestic pipes amid "serious wastage." The capital relies on neighboring states for water as the polluted Yamuna river's flow dwindles in summer.

The extreme heat comes as India's West Bengal recovers from a cyclone that killed 65 across the region. Scientists blame climate change for worsening such weather calamities.