New Delhi: Water shortage in Indore, cattle deaths in Jaisalmer, dharnas over power outages in cities of Uttar Pradesh, and more. This summer has been brutal for northern, central and even parts of southern India.
In fact, heatstroke has claimed at least 16 lives in Telangana. West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra also have reported heat-related deaths.
And, it is not just India that is groaning under the sweltering heat in the last few days. Parts of Western Europe are wilting under a spring heat wave, with related fatalities reported in France, Scotland and the wider United Kingdom.
“This latest heatwave in Europe is a brutal reminder of the spiraling impacts of the climate crisis, both human and economic. The main culprit is the world’s addiction to burning coal, oil and gas, and destroying forests,” UN Climate chief Simon Stiell said in a statement Wednesday.
France reported at least seven deaths directly or indirectly due to heatwave, with two drowning deaths on Sunday at a beach spread across France’s Atlantic seaboard and two in sports competition.
London witnessed what is called ‘a tropical night’ defined as one in which the temperature does not fall below 20 degrees Celsius. The UK broke a century-old temperature record for the second time in the past 24 hours on Tuesday. On Tuesday, London’s Kew Gardens recorded 35.1 degrees Celsius, breaking the previous day’s 34.8 degrees Celsius set a day earlier at Kew.
Today has been the hottest day in May on record with Kew Gardens provisionally reaching 34.8°C – exceeding the previous highest May temperature in the UK by a full 2 degrees Celsius🌡️
This heat would be exceptional in the UK even in mid summer, let alone in May📈 pic.twitter.com/d8boJYgaXJ
— Met Office (@metoffice) May 25, 2026
As a result, commuters scorched because of the extreme heat conditions on Tuesday in subway carriages without air conditioning. In neighbouring Scotland, firefighters worked overnight to douse a large grass fire which sent smoke billowing from Arthur’s Seat, the rocky hill that looms over Edinburgh.
“We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that heat wave events such as this have been made more likely and more severe due to climate change arising from our emissions of heat–trapping greenhouse gases,” said Peter Thorne, director of the ICARUS Climate Research Centre, at Maynooth University, in Ireland.
“But, nevertheless, many of the records being set, particularly in the UK and France, are mind bogglingly crazy,” he was quoted as saying by Associated Press.
🟠 Vigilance Orange Canicule en cours sur 13 départements de l’Ouest de la France ce mercredi, avec 22 à 23 °C parfois atteints dès le matin.
🌡️ Fortes chaleurs étendues vers le Poitou-Charente et la Gironde en journée.
⚠️ Soyez vigilants 👉 https://t.co/SBcDaJ3wuk pic.twitter.com/2yVkDASm82
— Météo-France (@meteofrance) May 27, 2026
Météo-France, the national meteorological and climatological service, has blamed it on a “heat dome” that was causing temperatures to soar more than 10 degrees Celsius above the normal. It had issued an orange-level warning—the second-highest warning level—across 13 departments in Western France Wednesday.
Spain, Italy and as well as those in the Iberian Peninsula are also facing heatwave conditions with temperature spanning over 38 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius.
Predicción para el resto de la semana:
➡️Continúa el episodio de temperaturas extraordinariamente altas para esta época, más propia de pleno verano. A partir de mañana, descienden en el litoral cantábrico, y entre el sábado y domingo en la mitad norte peninsular.
[1/2] 🧵 pic.twitter.com/rCeMDuYzBw
— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) May 28, 2026
The U.K. Health Security Agency issued an amber health alert for large parts of the country through Thursday, and a warning of a potential health risk particularly among older people, at the hottest times of the day. Sophie Brocas, the top regional administrator, urged beachgoers “to exercise the utmost caution.”
On Tuesday, France’s Sports Minister Marina Ferrari announced cancelling of some sporting events in the cause of extreme heatwave which the country is not habitual to. “Avoid any activity during the hottest hours, hydrate regularly, adjust the intensity of your effort, and prioritise activities early in the morning or in the evening,” she tweeted.
Taking similar proactive measures on the ground India is also ramping up its defenses. Cooling zones with drinks, rest spaces, and first aid and mobile relief units in 13 districts of Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) have been established by the Delhi government to overcome the blistering heat
“This heat is harsh on all of us and I urge you all to take as many precautions as possible. Please stay hydrated, keep water with you when stepping out. Offer a glass of water to others. In weather like this, such kindness goes a long way,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted Wednesday.
Nishtha Modgil is an alum of ThePrint School of Journalism, currently interning with ThePrint.
(Edited by Tony Rai)