India, March 2 -- The India Meteorological Department forecasts a hotter-than-normal summer in 2026 for India's hilly regions.

This includes the Himalayas, northeastern states and parts of the Western Ghats.

These areas face potential risks such as drought, wildfires and health challenges.

The summer season of 2026 could be hotter than normal for most of the Himalayan region, northeastern states and some parts of the Western Ghats region, according to data from the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) seasonal outlook for March-April-May. These are also the three major regions with mountains and hills in the country.

The maximum temperatures in the period of March-April-May could likely be above normal over most parts of the countr...