India Meteorological Department Issues Severe Heatwave Alert for Western Rajasthan from April 23, 2026; Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Phalodi, Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Sikar and Karauli Among Districts Affected
IMD on April 23, 2026 issued a severe heatwave alert for western Rajasthan covering Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Phalodi, Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Sikar and Karauli, with the heatwave projected to intensify through April 29. Minimum temperatures are 1.6-3.0 degrees Celsius above normal across the state, prompting Rajasthan SDMA to activate district heat-action plans, modify school timings and expand ORS and drinking-water distribution.
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Key Points for RAS
- IMD on April 23, 2026 issued a severe heatwave warning for Rajasthan, with Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Phalodi, Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Sikar and Karauli explicitly named.
- The heatwave is forecast to expand and intensify between April 23 and April 29, 2026.
- Minimum temperatures are running 1.6 to 3.0 degrees Celsius above normal across the state, indicating warm nights too.
- Eastern Rajasthan districts including Kota, Churu and Jaipur are under a heatwave watch with day temperatures around 41-42 degrees Celsius.
- IMD declares a heatwave when maximum temperature crosses 40°C in plains and a severe heatwave when departure from normal is 6.5 degrees or more.
- Rajasthan SDMA and Department of Health activated district heat-action plans with adjusted school timings, expanded ORS supply at PHCs and additional drinking-water tankers.
- The alert sits within IMD's April-June 2026 outlook of above-normal heatwaves and warm nights across northwest India, raising risk of heat illness, livestock stress and elevated power demand.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on April 23, 2026 issued a severe heatwave warning for Rajasthan as a fresh dome of hot dry air over the desert districts pushed maximum temperatures sharply upward and minimum temperatures 1.6 to 3.0 degrees Celsius above normal across the western half of the state. The IMD bulletin warned that the heatwave would expand and intensify between April 23 and April 29, 2026, with Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Phalodi, Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Sikar and Karauli explicitly named in the severe-heatwave category. Eastern districts such as Kota, Churu and Jaipur were placed under a heatwave watch with day temperatures hovering near or above 41-42 degrees Celsius. The Department classifies a heatwave when maximum temperature crosses 40°C in plains and 30°C in hill stations and a severe heatwave when the departure from normal is 6.5 degrees or more. The Rajasthan State Disaster Management Authority and the Department of Health activated district heat-action plans, advising restricted outdoor exposure between 12 noon and 4 p.m., expanded ORS distribution at primary health centres, modified school timings, and additional drinking-water tanker support in vulnerable urban wards. The forecast comes against the backdrop of IMD's April-June 2026 outlook for above-normal heatwaves and warm nights across northwest India, raising risks of heat-related illness, livestock stress, accelerated reservoir evaporation in Indira Gandhi Nahar Pariyojana command, and elevated power-demand spikes on the Discoms. Rajasthan was India's heat-hotspot in 2024 when Phalodi recorded 50°C; the 2026 alerts indicate the state is once again entering a high-risk thermal regime.
Frequently Asked Questions
1 Which districts of Rajasthan were placed under severe heatwave alert by IMD on April 23, 2026?
IMD placed Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Phalodi, Hanumangarh, Sri Ganganagar, Sikar and Karauli under severe heatwave alert, with the heatwave projected to intensify until April 29, 2026.
2 What criteria does IMD use to classify a heatwave?
IMD declares a heatwave when maximum temperature crosses 40°C in the plains and 30°C in hill stations, and a severe heatwave when the departure from normal is 6.5 degrees Celsius or more.
3 What administrative response did Rajasthan take to the alert?
The Rajasthan State Disaster Management Authority and the Department of Health activated district heat-action plans, modified school timings, expanded ORS distribution at PHCs and arranged additional drinking-water tankers in vulnerable urban wards.
4 What does the broader IMD seasonal outlook say for the April-June 2026 period?
IMD has projected above-normal heatwave days and warm nights across northwest India during April-June 2026, raising the risk of heat illness, livestock stress, accelerated reservoir evaporation and higher power demand.
5 Why is the Hanumangarh-Sri Ganganagar belt particularly affected?
This belt sits in the Indira Gandhi Nahar Pariyojana command and on the desert edge, where rapid daytime heating and limited tree cover allow temperatures to rise sharply, making the population, livestock and irrigated crops especially vulnerable.
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