In an unprecedented climate event, all of the world’s top 50 hottest cities were recorded in India on April 27, according to data from air quality monitoring agency AQI. The agency reported that this was the first time in modern history such a concentration of extreme heat occurred in one country. The ranking was based on 24-hour temperature, rainfall, wind, and humidity data, showing an average high of 112.5°F (44.7°C) across the cities. Banda in Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 115.16°F (46.2°C), the highest temperature on Earth that day.

Climate historian Maximiliano Herrera described the heatwave as one of the harshest Aprils on record, breaking hundreds of temperature records. Experts warned that rising heat levels could exceed human survivability thresholds by 2050, straining India’s agriculture, economy, and health systems. Outdoor workers, children, and the elderly face the greatest health risks.

The heatwave coincides with an energy shortage worsened by reduced oil supply due to the Iran conflict. The Indian Meteorological Department cautioned that above-normal temperatures may persist, while El Niño conditions could reduce monsoon rainfall, threatening agriculture and water resources.