Rising Mercury: March was India's hottest in 122 years

Last month was the hottest March in India in 122 years, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The all-time average maximum temperature surpassed the record of March 2010. In 2010, India's average monthly day temperature in March had recorded at 33.09 degree Celsius in comparison to 33.1 degree Celsius in March, 2022.

According to IMD officials, lack of rain in March in north India has led to such intense heat. Normally, Delhi would receive 15.9 mm of rainfall in March on an average. Meanwhile, the IMD warned of heatwave conditions in north India.

A heatwave is declared if the departure from the normal temperature is 4.5-6.4 degrees when the maximum reaches at least 40 degrees in the plains or 37 in the coastal weather stations. Few other criteria can also lead to its declaration. The air temperature becomes fatal to the human body when exposed to a heatwave, according to the India Meteorological Department.