No relief for Delhi-NCR as IMD warns of prolonged heatwave, 'orange' alert issued

NEW DELHI: Residents across Delhi-NCR are likely to continue facing intense heatwave conditions till May 27, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing an “orange alert” for the national capital and adjoining areas.The city is not only experiencing scorching daytime temperatures but also unusually hot nights, raising concerns over prolonged thermal stress.According to the IMD, Delhi recorded its first “warm night” of the season on Thursday as the minimum temperature at Safdarjung, the city’s base station, settled at 31.9°C, which is 5.2 degrees above normal. This marked Delhi’s hottest May night in the past 14 years. The last such warm night conditions were recorded on April 9 and 10, 2025.A “warm night” is declared when the maximum temperature exceeds 40°C in the plains and the minimum temperature remains 4.5 degrees or more above normal. A heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature crosses 40°C and is at least 4.5 degrees above normal, or when temperatures exceed 45°C. According to the IMD, a severe heatwave is recorded when the maximum temperature is above 40°C and at least 6.5 degrees above normal.The weather department said heatwave conditions are expected to persist over the next few days, affecting both daytime temperatures and nighttime comfort levels.As per news agency PTI, Delhi also reported its first major heatstroke case of the season after a 24-year-old man travelling by train was admitted unconscious to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on Thursday morning. With temperatures soaring, hospitals and authorities across the city have stepped up preparations to handle heat-related illnesses.Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta said the government was working in “mission mode” to minimise the impact of the heatwave on residents. “13 mobile heat relief units are continuously reaching crowded areas to provide cold and clean drinking water, ORS packets, first aid, cotton gamchhas and caps,” she said in a post on X.Dr Neeraj Nishchal, professor at AIIMS, warned that dehydration and electrolyte imbalance could become fatal if ignored. “As the heat increases, the sweating process in the body increases. This leads to dehydration. Along with sweat, electrolytes, especially sodium, begin to decrease. Alcohol should be completely avoided,” he said.The prolonged heatwave has once again highlighted the growing challenge of extreme weather events in north India, especially in densely populated urban centres like Delhi-NCR, where concrete infrastructure and pollution often intensify heat stress.