Extreme heat in India - Climate scientists: "Testing the limits of human survival"

India is one of the countries that will be most affected by heat waves as a direct effect of the climate crisis, according to the UN's climate panel IPCC.

According to the country's authorities, the average temperature reached just over 37 degrees in April - the highest in 122 years.

The capital New Dehli recorded over 40 degrees heat seven days in a row last month, according to CNN.

Authorities were then forced to close schools and urge residents to stay indoors during the heat.

Heat domes increasingly common

Heat waves are not uncommon in India.

But this year, the high temperatures have come earlier than normal.

One reason is that a so-called heat dome has been formed, according to SVT's climate correspondent Erika Bjerström.

- It also happened in Canada last summer when many people died.

What is known is that it will become more common in step with climate change.

The extreme heat is also due to jet streams that have arisen, which is also in accordance with the climate researchers' models, she says in SVT: Aktuellt.

Agriculture, energy supply and the railways are also affected.

In some parts of India, millions of residents have been without electricity due to a lack of coal supplies to power plants.

- The big concern is that the wave is leading to an energy crisis and difficulties in keeping industries, hospitals and air conditioners running.

Now it is said that the stockpiles can be finished in just a few days.

People are also afraid of floods because the glaciers in the Himalayas can melt quickly when there is such a heat surge.  

"Never seen before"

According to Dr.

Chandni Singh, a senior researcher at the UN Panel on Climate Change, said the heat could have far-reaching effects on residents' health.

- It is the type of heat wave we have never seen before.

We have seen a change in intensity, time and duration.

This is what climate experts predicted, he says in a statement, according to CNN.

The heat wave has also affected neighboring Pakistan, not least in the southeastern province where the temperature was measured at 47 degrees on Friday.