Hottest nation on earth! Extreme heat torments India, Banda tops list

NEW DELHI: The weather map shows India in red, and it is no surprise for a nation engulfed by severe heat waves. According to the AQI Live Weather Rankings, 95 of the world's 100 hottest cities are in India. Banda in Uttar Pradesh is at the top with a temperature of 47.4 degrees Celsius. Bindki, Auraiya, Fatehpur, Etawah, Moradabad, Kripalu Dham Mangarh, Unchahar, Prayagraj in UP and Bankura in West Bengal recorded 46 degrees.

Temperatures are above 40 degrees Celsius in cities in the states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha. Cities like the national capital Delhi, Nagpur and Akola in Maharashtra, Bhubaneswar in Odisha and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh also recorded severe heat.

Experts say that the current heat wave is due to weather factors. Dry winds, clear skies, and delayed pre-monsoon activities are all contributing to the rise in temperatures. In addition, the lack of cloud cover in the sky means that sunlight falls directly on the ground for a longer period. Reduced snowfall in the Himalayas has also contributed to the rise in temperatures.

The Meteorological Department has warned that severe heat wave conditions will prevail in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi today. Isolated places in Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal will experience hot weather till Wednesday. Meanwhile, there is a possibility of rain at isolated places in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya today.