A record 52.3 degrees Celsius temperature was recorded today in New Delhi, India’s capital, where authorities have warned residents of water scarcity.

This record temperature was recorded this afternoon (local time) in the Mungeshpur suburb of New Delhi by the India Meteorological Department, which called for “strong heat waves”.

The Indian Meteorological Department had already recorded a record 49.9° Celsius yesterday in New Delhi. Authorities in the city of about 30 million issued a ‘red health alert’ for today, where similar temperatures were recorded the day before.

They warned of a “very strong possibility of heat-related illnesses and heat stroke for all ages” and urged citizens to exercise “special vigilance” for vulnerable people.

The heat wave in India’s central and northwestern regions is “expected to gradually ease” from tomorrow, Thursday, according to the Indian Meteorological Department.

In May 2022, a temperature of 49.2° Celsius was recorded in some districts of the capital. Very high temperatures are common in India during summer, but researchers say climate change will bring heat waves of longer duration, more frequent and more intense.

Today, on the streets of Delhi, residents seemed to be facing the situation fatalistically as there was little they could do to escape the heat. “Everyone wants to stay indoors,” said Rup Ram, 57, a snack vendor, saying he was finding it difficult to sell his salty doughnuts.

Ram, who lives with his wife and their two sons in a small house, says his small fan does not allow the space to really cool down and that he is waiting for the arrival of the rainy season in July.

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“I don’t know what else we can do,” said Rani, 60, who commutes for two hours by bus every morning to sell at her stall to tourists. “It’s definitely much hotter, but there’s nothing we can do,” she said, drinking water  from a bottle she had brought with her.

Authorities in New Delhi have warned of the risk of water scarcity.

Some areas have already experienced water supply disruptions. Water Minister Atisi Marlena appealed to the “collective responsibility” of the city residents urging them to stop wasting water, the Times of India reported today.