South Asia Heat Wave Pushes India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to 50C
South Asia’s heat wave is pushing parts of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to 45-50 degrees Celsius, with daily life disrupted across hundreds of millions of people. Pakistan reported at least 10 heat-related deaths on Tuesday, while multiple heat-related deaths were also reported in India.
India Pakistan Bangladesh
Anjal Prakash, research director at the Bharti Institute of Public Policy think tank in India, said India is experiencing an “unusually early and intense heatwave.” Prakash said: “High-pressure systems dominate, trapping hot air near the surface like a dome, preventing it from rising and cooling.” He added: “This sinking air compresses, warms adiabatically, and blocks clouds, allowing relentless solar heating.”
Prakash also said: “Weak pre-monsoon rains and lingering El Nino-like patterns further suppress cooling.” The World Meteorological Organization said El Nino conditions could potentially form from May to July, and WMO chief Wilfran Moufouma-Okia said last month: “After a period of neutral conditions at the start of the year … there is high confidence in the onset of El Nino, followed by further intensification,”
India Meteorological Department
The India Meteorological Department forecast higher-than-average temperatures across much of India this month and warned that severe heatwave conditions in western regions and along the coast are expected. The agency said heatwaves are likely to be more frequent than usual along the eastern coast, in parts of the Himalayan foothills, and in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
IMD chief Mrutyun said: “There will be an increased number of heatwave conditions along the east coast states and Gujarat by about four to five days into the month of May”
Climate Change and El Nino
Scientists and meteorological agencies said the intensity, duration and geographic spread of recent heat events are unprecedented, and experts are increasingly linking these extremes to human-driven climate change. The World Meteorological Organization said climate change can worsen the impact of El Nino events even though there is no evidence it increases their frequency or intensity.
For people in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the immediate issue is not the forecast alone but the stretch of extreme heat already in place, with more severe conditions expected across India this month and heatwave days set to increase along parts of the east coast and Gujarat by early May.
