The Karnataka government has announced a change in working hours for government offices in nine districts due to the ongoing heatwave.

For April and May 2025, offices in seven districts of the Kalaburagi division, along with Vijayapura and Bagalkot in the Belagavi division, will operate from 8 am to 1:30 pm.

The Karnataka State Government Employees Association had earlier proposed this adjustment, as per the Information and Public Relations Department.

India is set to experience a hotter-than-usual summer from April to June, with an increase in heatwave days in central and eastern India as well as the northwestern plains, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Most regions will see higher-than-normal maximum temperatures, except for some areas in western and eastern India where the temperatures may remain normal.

IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said in an online press conference, "From April to June, most parts of north and east India, central India, and the plains of northwest India are expected to experience two to four more heatwave days than normal."

India usually records four to seven heatwave days between April and June. However, this year, states such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu may see a rise in extreme heat.

In particular, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha are expected to record 10 to 11 heatwave days.

April will bring higher-than-usual maximum temperatures across most of India. However, a few areas in the extreme southern and northwestern regions may experience normal temperatures. Minimum temperatures will also be higher than usual across most regions, except for some places in the northwest and northeast.

The central government has asked states to check if hospitals are ready to handle heatstroke cases as temperatures continue to rise. Last year, India recorded 536 heatwave days, the highest in 14 years, with over 41,789 suspected heatstroke cases and 143 heat-related deaths. However, experts believe the real number of heat-related deaths may be undercounted due to a lack of proper data.

The heatwave has also arrived earlier this year. In 2024, the first heatwave was reported in Odisha on April 5, but this year, parts of Konkan and coastal Karnataka experienced heatwaves as early as February 27-28.

Experts warn that climate change is increasing heat stress and driving electricity demand. India’s peak electricity demand is expected to grow by 9 to 10 per cent this summer. Last year, the peak demand crossed 250 gigawatts on May 30, exceeding projections by 6.3 per cent.

Meanwhile, the IMD has predicted normal rainfall in April, with 88 to 112 per cent of the long-term average of 39.2 mm. Some regions in northwest, northeast, west-central, and peninsular India may receive normal to above-normal rainfall.

Mohapatra also warned about possible landslides in parts of Kerala and Karnataka in the Western Ghats and flooding risks in northeastern states.

Inputs from agencies