Nagpur: The heatwave battering Vidarbha has turned brutal, rewriting records and pushing cities to the edge of endurance. In a stark warning of intensifying climate extremes, Wardha has smashed a 30-year-old temperature record, while Amravati has emerged as Maharashtra’s hottest hotspot, as the region continues to suffocate under relentless heat.
On Monday, Amravati scorched at a blistering 46.6°C, making it not just the hottest city in the state but the second hottest in the country, trailing only Banda in Uttar Pradesh at 47.6°C. Wardha followed dangerously close at 46.5°C, overtaking its previous all-time April high of 46.4°C recorded in 1996, a record that has now been wiped out without mercy.
Gold Rate
Apr 28- 2026 - Time 10.30Hrs
Nagpur, too, is firmly in the grip of this unforgiving heatwave, recording its season’s peak of 45.4°C, offering no escape for residents already reeling under extreme conditions.
The crisis is widespread. Cities like Akola (46.3°C), Chandrapur (45.2°C), and Yavatmal (45.2°C) have joined the list of India’s hottest locations, turning large parts of Vidarbha into a blazing hotspot. Even districts like Buldhana, Bramhapuri, and Gadchiroli have not been spared, with temperatures soaring beyond 43°C.
Sunday painted an even grimmer picture. Akola was the hottest place in the entire country at a staggering 46.9°C, followed closely by Amravati (46.8°C), Wardha (46.4°C), and Yavatmal (46.0°C). Multiple Vidarbha cities featured among the world’s hottest locations, underlining the sheer severity of this heatwave crisis.
Though Monday saw a marginal dip in temperatures due to partial cloud cover and isolated light showers, the relief was negligible and short-lived. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), temperatures across Vidarbha remain 2.5°C to over 4°C above normal, keeping the region locked in a dangerous heat zone.
What’s making matters worse is the absence of nighttime relief. Minimum temperatures have remained abnormally high, Chandrapur recorded 29.6°C, Yavatmal 30°C, and Wardha 27.8°C, ensuring that the heat lingers relentlessly, day and night, draining both comfort and health.
The IMD has issued a fresh warning: heatwave conditions will persist in Amravati and Akola on Tuesday, while Nagpur, Wardha, Yavatmal, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroli may see isolated thundershowers. A broader spell of rain and thunderstorms is expected across Vidarbha on April 29 and 30, but until then, the region remains on edge.
Authorities have urged citizens to take the situation seriously, avoid stepping out during peak hours, stay hydrated, and take all necessary precautions. With temperatures spiralling and records collapsing, Vidarbha is facing not just a heatwave, but a growing environmental alarm that cannot be ignored any longer.
