Heatwave grips India, rain hits Bihar, power peaks
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Patna
- Apr 26, 2026
- 771
An intense heatwave has tightened its grip across India, with extreme temperatures and erratic weather affecting multiple states. In Uttar Pradesh, heatwave conditions are prevailing in nearly 50 districts. Banda emerged as the hottest location, recording a scorching 47.4°C on Saturday.
In contrast, parts of Bihar witnessed a sudden weather shift on Sunday. Heavy rainfall lashed at least 10 districts, including Supaul, Raxaul, and Madhubani, while Darbhanga experienced daytime darkness due to dense cloud cover. In Kishanganj, strong winds and rain uprooted trees in several areas.
Amid the rising temperatures, authorities in Madhya Pradesh have ordered the closure of anganwadi centres and all schools up to Class 8 in Indore and Gwalior from April 27 to 30. Meanwhile, Una recorded a high of 42.2°C, with rain forecast from April 27.
The extreme heat has pushed the country’s electricity demand to an all-time high of 252.07 GW, surpassing the previous record of 250 GW set in May 2024. The India Meteorological Department has issued heatwave and warm night alerts for 10 northwestern states, including Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, along with Delhi and Chhattisgarh.
Hot and humid conditions are expected over Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, while states like Goa are also likely to face extreme humidity.
For April 28, heatwave conditions are forecast in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Warm night conditions are also expected in parts of Haryana, Delhi, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh.
The India Meteorological Department has advised people to avoid stepping out during peak afternoon hours, stay hydrated, wear light clothing, and take extra care of children and the elderly.
Meanwhile, parts of Rajasthan saw sudden relief as rain and hailstorms hit districts like Bikaner, Sikar, Sawai Madhopur and Barmer, with hail reported in Rajsamand. Bihar also continued to receive heavy rainfall in districts such as Supaul, Kishanganj, and Madhubani.
On the global front, the World Meteorological Organization has revised its forecast, indicating that El Niño conditions may develop as early as May. This could adversely impact the upcoming monsoon season. Earlier, the India Meteorological Department had already warned that rainfall this year may remain below normal.