India issued a heat wave as temperatures in New Delhi reached a high of 52.3 degrees Celsius (126.3 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, marking the second day of the nation’s record-high heat.
The India Meteorological Department predicted that “severe heat-wave conditions” will persist in multiple regions. It added the temperatures would die down in central and northwest India on Thursday.
Three people died Tuesday due to heat stroke in the desert state of Rajasthan, which previously held the national record for high temperatures.
Temperatures reached 49.9 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday.
Local government officials imposed limits on water usage, issuing the equivalent of $24 in fines for people participating in activities that require copious amounts of water, like washing cars.
The criteria for declaring a heat wave in India requires the maximum temperature to be 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius (40.1 to 43.52 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than usual. A severe heat wave alert is issued when temperatures are at least 6.5 degrees Celsius (43.7 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than normal.
Scientists say Asia’s scorching temperatures this summer will be worsened because of human-driven climate change.
