New Delhi, April 28 -- With temperatures soaring and heatwaves intensifying nationwide, the ministry of labour & employment has ordered all states and union territories to protect workers. The advisory calls for urgent safety measures, particularly for those in outdoor and physically demanding roles. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also stepped in, asking states to act in advance to protect vulnerable populations from extreme heat.

On 27 April, maximum day temperatures ranged between 40degC and 46degC across most parts of the country, barring the western Himalayan region, northeast Bihar, and parts of the Northeast, where it remained below 36degC. The highest temperature was 47.6degC, recorded in Banda in eastern Uttar Pr...