A severe heatwave gripped large parts of Vidarbha on Sunday, pushing temperatures well beyond 45 degrees Celsius and intensifying public discomfort across cities. Akola recorded a blistering 46.9 degrees Celsius, the highest in the country, while Amravati (46.8 degrees Celsius), Wardha (46.4 degrees Celsius), and Yavatmal (46.0 degrees Celsius) closely followed.
Nagpur touched 45.4 degrees Celsius, its highest of the season so far, as hot winds and dry conditions prevailed through the day. There is no respite from the scorching summer as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Akola, Amravati, and Wardha, warning of a severe heatwave, while a yellow alert remains in place for Nagpur, Chandrapur, and Buldhana.
Akola not only topped national charts but also ranked among the hottest places globally, placing third in the world for the day. Amravati (4th), Wardha (6th), Yavatmal (8th), and Nagpur (10th) also featured in the global top 10, underlining the intensity of the heatwave across the region.
Data from regional observatories shows temperatures were significantly above normal, with departures of +4.3 degrees Celsius in Akola and +4.6 degrees Celsius in Amravati and Yavatmal. Chandrapur recorded 45.0 degrees Celsius, while Bramhapuri, Gadchiroli, and Gondia remained above 44 degrees Celsius. Minimum temperatures offered little relief, hovering between 24.5 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius, with Yavatmal recording a high night temperature of 30 degrees Celsius, adding to discomfort. No rainfall was recorded across Vidarbha in the last 24 hours.
Residents reported intense heat stress, with deserted roads in the afternoon and rising cases of dehydration and fatigue. Outdoor workers, vendors, and traffic personnel were among the worst affected, while many said even evenings offered limited respite due to persistently high temperatures.
Wardha and Amravati equalled their highest-ever April temperatures at 46.4 degrees Celsius and 46.8 degrees Celsius, respectively. Vidarbha's all-time April record stands at 47.6 degrees Celsius in Chandrapur (April 29, 2013), while Nagpur's record is 47.1 degrees Celsius (April 30, 2009). Notably, Nagpur has recorded 45 degrees Celsius or more on five occasions between 2016 and 2025, all in the last week of April — a trend that appears to be continuing this year.
