A severe heatwave has intensified across several states in India, with temperatures soaring beyond normal levels. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for Jharkhand, Karnataka, West Bengal, Odisha, and Maharashtra, as mercury levels surpass 40°C in multiple regions. Relief is expected after anticipated rainfall and thunderstorms from late March.

Jharkhand records extreme temperatures

Jharkhand has been severely impacted, with seven districts crossing the 40°C mark. Chaibasa in West Singhbhum district recorded the state’s highest temperature at 41°C, 7.6°C above normal. Other affected areas include Daltonganj (40.7°C), Bokaro Thermal (40.1°C), and Jamshedpur (40°C). Ranchi also experienced unusual heat at 37°C, 6.1°C above average.

IMD has issued a Yellow alert for heatwaves in Seraikela-Kharswan, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Dhanbad, and Bokaro for March 16. However, a respite is expected from March 19 with forecasted rainfall and thunderstorms.

Karnataka braces for rising temperatures

North Interior Karnataka has reported extreme heat, with Ainapur Hobli village in Kalaburagi recording 42.8°C, the highest temperature in the state in the last 24 hours. Other affected districts include Raichur, Bidar, Bagalkote, Yadgir, and Vijayapura, all exceeding 40°C.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has advised citizens to avoid outdoor exposure between 12 pm and 3 pm. The IMD predicts further temperature rises of 2-4°C between March 15-17, with heatwave warnings in place for March 18-19.

West Bengal swelters under heatwave

In West Bengal, extreme heat has gripped Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankura, Paschim Bardhaman, and Birbhum. Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 26.3°C, 3.7°C above normal, while the maximum hit 34.1°C, five degrees above average.

IMD forecasts continued heatwave conditions until March 18, with dry weather in southern and western parts of the state. However, relief is expected post-March 20 with possible rain or thundershowers.

Odisha experiences intense heat

In Odisha, the industrial town of Jharsuguda recorded a scorching 41.8°C on Friday. Other affected districts include Sambalpur, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Bolangir, and Titlagarh, all surpassing 40°C. The IMD has issued warnings as the extreme heat persists.

Maharashtra, especially Vidarbha, continues to suffer

Maharashtra, particularly the Vidarbha region, has been grappling with prolonged heatwave conditions since early February. Chandrapur recorded 41.4°C, making it one of the hottest places in India. Bramhapuri, Solapur, and Wardha also registered temperatures above 41°C, with humidity levels remaining low, increasing discomfort.

No immediate relief is expected, as high temperatures are set to continue.

Authorities issue public safety advisories

With large parts of the country under a heatwave alert, authorities have issued several public safety guidelines:

Avoid prolonged sun exposure

Stay hydrated by drinking sufficient fluids

Wear light, breathable clothing

Seek shade or stay indoors during peak heat hours

Monitor vulnerable groups, including children, elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions

With rising temperatures, authorities urge people to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions as they brace for the coming weeks of extreme weather.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday pledged strict action against those responsible for the death of an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) who was killed while attempting to rescue a man during a violent clash in Mauganj district. The incident has sparked a political row, with the opposition Congress criticizing the state government over its handling of law and order.

The tragedy unfolded on Saturday when a group of Kol tribe members allegedly abducted Sunny Dwivedi, suspecting him of involvement in the death of a tribal man, Ashok Kumar, months earlier. According to police records, Kumar had died in a road accident. A police team rushed to Gadra village to rescue Dwivedi but found that he had already died, reportedly after being beaten by the mob.

When the police attempted to enter the room where Dwivedi was held, they were attacked by the tribals with sticks and stones, leaving several officers injured. ASI Ramcharan Gautam of the Special Armed Force succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Expressing grief over the incident, CM Yadav said, “What happened in Mauganj yesterday is deeply saddening. An ASI lost his life, and several others were injured. The situation is now under control, and I have directed senior officials to reach the spot immediately. I hope the situation will normalize soon.”

In a post on X, Yadav, who also holds the home portfolio, stated that he has instructed authorities to take strict action against those involved in the “inhuman and unfortunate” incident. He confirmed that ASI Gautam died during the police team’s efforts to resolve a dispute between two groups in Gadra village under Shahpur police station.

Yadav added that the injured policemen have been admitted to a hospital in Rewa for treatment. He also mentioned that Section 163 of the BNSS (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita) has been imposed in the area, and senior officials, including the DIG of Rewa and SP of Mauganj, have been deployed to manage the situation. The ADG of Rewa Zone and the Director General of Police have also been directed to supervise the operations.

Meanwhile, state Congress president Jitu Patwari slammed the BJP-led government, alleging a complete breakdown of law and order in Madhya Pradesh. He cited several recent incidents, including the death of an innocent tribal during an anti-Naxal operation in Mandla district and clashes between police and lawyers in Indore.

“The police committed atrocities on tribals in Mauganj, who retaliated and attacked the police. Law and order have completely collapsed in Madhya Pradesh. The Home Minister has failed. If police are attacked at five places in one or two days, where is the law and order?” Patwari questioned.

A pair of NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months, are now a step closer to returning to Earth after a replacement crew successfully docked with the orbital outpost.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon, carrying the new Crew-10 team, arrived at the ISS at 0545 GMT on Sunday, as seen in live footage. The moment was marked by an emotional embrace between the arriving astronauts and their colleagues who had been awaiting relief for months.

Stranded astronauts finally set for return

Williams and Wilmore found themselves in an unexpected extended stay aboard the ISS after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which they were testing on its maiden crewed voyage, encountered propulsion issues. The spacecraft had to return to Earth uncrewed, leaving the astronauts without a safe means to return.

Speaking about the long-awaited arrival of their replacements, Williams described it as a “wonderful day” and expressed joy at seeing her colleagues finally reach the space station.

Their prolonged mission lasted significantly longer than the typical six-month rotation for ISS astronauts. While their unexpected extension was far from the longest space mission—NASA’s Frank Rubio holds the U.S. record of 371 days in space, and Russia’s Valeri Polyakov still holds the world record of 437 days aboard Mir—it was still an unexpected challenge for both the astronauts and their families.

Preparations begin for return to Earth

Wilmore and Williams will soon begin preparing for their return journey. Their departure is scheduled for no sooner than March 19, with an ocean splashdown planned off the Florida coast. They will be joined by NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov on their return journey aboard the Dragon capsule.

Meanwhile, the replacement Crew-10 team, which launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, consists of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. The team will carry out various scientific experiments, including flammability tests for future spacecraft designs and studies on the impact of space travel on the human body.

This latest crew rotation marks a crucial milestone in maintaining ISS operations and ensuring safe travel for astronauts venturing into space.