As Europe's record-breaking heatwave pushes the death toll past 1,300, many have questioned why temperatures of around 43°C have proved so deadly when parts of India regularly experience even higher temperatures. Experts say the answer lies in factors beyond the thermometer reading.
Geography, building design, humidity and long-term adaptation all influence how people experience extreme heat. Much of Europe lies farther north than India and has historically experienced milder summers, leaving homes and infrastructure ill-equipped for prolonged heatwaves.
European buildings are largely designed to retain warmth during winter, with insulated walls and limited ventilation. Air conditioning is also far less common than in other regions. By contrast, Indian homes have traditionally been built to cope with heat, often featuring stone flooring, higher ceilings and better ventilation.
Humidity and high night-time temperatures have also worsened conditions across Europe. Experts warn that when temperatures remain elevated overnight, the human body gets little chance to recover from daytime heat stress, increasing the risk of heat-related illness and death.
The biggest difference, however, is adaptation. India has spent decades developing behavioural and architectural responses to extreme heat because high temperatures are a regular part of its climate. Europe, experts say, is only now confronting prolonged periods of dangerous heat and lacks many of the systems and habits needed to cope with it.
Scientists stress that the comparison should not be seen as India being immune to extreme heat. Rather, it highlights how vulnerability to heat is shaped not only by temperature, but also by infrastructure, preparedness and access to cooling.
