India, May 22 -- Delhi's punishing summer is no longer confined to the daytime. Even nights are offering little relief, with the Capital recording its warmest May night on Thursday in 14 years as heatwave conditions continue to tighten their grip on the city. From rising hospitalisations and soaring electricity demand to an increase in fire incidents, the prolonged spell of extreme heat is beginning to strain daily life across the capital city.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Safdarjung, Delhi's base weather station, recorded a minimum temperature of 31.9 degrees Celsius on Thursday, five degrees above normal. The reading marked the season's first "warm night" and the warmest May night recorded in Delhi since May ...