India Faces Hottest February in 125 Years - Is This the New Normal?

Delhi - In a shocking revelation, February 2025 has been officially recorded as the warmest in India's history since record-keeping began in 1901. With a staggering mean temperature of 22.04°C—1.34°C above the norm—climate experts warn that this could be the start of a dangerous trend.  

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has already issued an alarming forecast: March to May will witness above-normal temperatures, with prolonged heatwaves gripping states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The implications are severe—scorching temperatures not only threaten human health but also place immense stress on agriculture. Wheat and rapeseed crops, critical to India's food security, are at risk of reduced yields, raising concerns over food inflation and supply shortages.  

While climate change has long been a looming threat, this record-breaking heat serves as an urgent wake-up call. Experts attribute the rising temperatures to global warming, deforestation, and urban heat islands, highlighting the dire need for policy action. Without aggressive intervention, extreme weather events may become an unavoidable reality.  

With heatwaves expected to intensify, the focus must shift toward preparedness. Governments must ramp up public health measures, implement sustainable agricultural practices, and invest in climate resilience strategies. The question now is: will we act before it’s too late, or is this just the beginning of India’s climate catastrophe?