North India is grappling with a punishing heatwave and worsening air pollution, disrupting daily life and prompting health warnings.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an ‘Orange Alert’ for 13 Uttar Pradesh districts, including Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Azamgarh, signaling a high risk of heat-related illnesses.

Daytime temperatures in these areas hit 41°C, with the IMD forecasting intensification over the next 48 hours.

Also Read: India Is the Lone Star! UN Report Cites India To be World's Fastest Growing Large Economy

Delhi faces maximum temperatures of 40-41°C and minimums around 26°C through May 18, worsened by 60% humidity and scorching winds, raising heatstroke risks.

Concurrently, air quality has plummeted, with Delhi’s Anand Vihar, Alipur, and Mundka recording Air Quality Index (AQI) levels above 300 (“very poor”). In Ghaziabad’s Loni and Noida’s Sector 62, AQI reached the “severe” category, posing serious respiratory and cardiovascular threats.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported similar conditions across Noida and Ghaziabad, amplifying public health concerns. Medical experts, including a senior physician at Safdarjung Hospital, urge vulnerable groups—seniors, children, and those with heart conditions—to stay indoors, hydrate, seek shade, and wear masks against pollutants.

Relief may come with light rainfall forecast for parts of North India from May 19, potentially easing temperatures. Until then, the IMD advises vigilance and strict adherence to health precautions to mitigate the dual crisis of heat and pollution.

Also Read: Israeli Strikes Kill 64 in Gaza! Trump’s Middle East Tour Ends Without Ceasefire Hope