India’s Heat Exposes a Fragile Grid as Energy Crunch Deepens

India is preparing for a blistering summer until monsoon rains arrive in June, with above-normal heat already straining power grids at a time when the country is grappling with energy shortages.

Heat waves are forecast to persist for longer than usual in densely populated states of western and eastern India, the country’s weather forecaster said on Friday. Areas like Gujarat, Maharashtra and parts of the foothills of the Himalayas will see more days of unusually high temperatures in May — typically the peak of the pre-monsoon summer.