India’s capital region of Delhi has suffered through a record-breaking heatwave this week as temperatures soar near 50C and scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating alarming conditions in the world’s most populous country.
The capital region, home to more than 30mn people, recorded all-time high temperatures of more than 49C this week. The high daytime temperatures brought activity including construction work to a halt and prompted authorities to ration water in order to control the strain on resources.
The heatwave has spread across India, with nearby states Haryana and Rajasthan registering temperatures higher than 50C. A weather station in Delhi reported a maximum temperature of 52.9C on Wednesday, though the India Meteorological Department later clarified that the reading might have been an error.