A city in India’s desert state of Rajasthan set a new national heat record Thursday when the mercury rose to 51°C (123.8°F).
The stupefying temperature was measured in the city of Phalodi as a severe heat wave blankets India, the Guardian reports. Thursday’s temperature tops the previous record of 50.6°C (123°F) set in 1956.
These blistering conditions, made worse by drought, have already claimed dozens of lives in the country’s southern and eastern states. Last year, more than 2,300 people died during an extreme heat wave.
India usually experiences it highest temperatures in May and June, with the government declaring a heatwave when temperatures reach 45°C (113°F).
[Guardian]
More Must-Read Stories From TIME
- Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Her Fight for Abortion Access in Michigan
- Inside the War on Fake Consumer Reviews
- Column: Europe's Refugee Crisis Is Going to Get Worse
- How Lawmakers Are Trying to Protect Abortion Data Privacy
- The Surprising Thing That Could Help Ease Inflation
- Finding the American Dream in Canada
- The Safest Sunscreens to Buy—and Which Ingredients to Avoid
- Fact-Checking 8 Claims About Crypto’s Climate Impact
- How Grief Upsets Your Gut Health
- Who Could Replace Boris Johnson As U.K. Prime Minister?
Read More From TIME
