Representational Image | Source: PTI

New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Delhi, warning of a heatwave expected to continue till April 9.

Daytime temperatures are likely to stay between 40°C and 42°C until Tuesday, with a slight dip expected on Wednesday. Night temperatures may also rise gradually, ranging from 20°C to 24°C. On Sunday, Delhi’s Safdarjung Observatory recorded a high of 38.2°C — about 3 degrees above normal.

A yellow alert means the heat is manageable for most but could affect infants, the elderly, and those with health conditions. People are advised to stay indoors during peak hours, wear loose cotton clothes, and keep themselves hydrated.

Much of north India — including parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh — is also dealing with heatwave conditions. Barmer in Rajasthan hit a scorching 43.6°C on Sunday, the highest in the region so far.

The IMD has also noted a new western disturbance likely to affect the Western Himalayan region from April 8, which could bring some relief later in the week.

The Delhi government has decided to stop illegal meat and fish sales in the city. Minister Pravesh Verma has asked officials to take action against people selling these items without permission. He clearly stated that no one should sell meat or fish illegally, and strict steps will be taken to remove such vendors.

Issue Raised in Assembly

This matter was discussed in the Delhi Assembly on Thursday. BJP MLA Karnail Singh from Shakur Basti asked when action would be taken against meat and fish shops running near religious places. Minister Verma replied that all illegal meat and fish shops in Delhi would face action, and orders have already been given to the officials.

Tough Time for Small Sellers

With this decision, people selling meat and fish on roadsides will have a tough time. Many of them belong to lower-income groups and rely on this business for their livelihood. Customers, especially those from poor backgrounds, may also find it difficult to buy meat and fish easily. This step by the government is likely to have a big impact.

India’s Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has taken action against e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart, raiding their warehouses in Delhi and seizing products that didn’t meet quality standards.

Officials took away items like geysers and food mixers worth about ?7 million ($81,561) from an Amazon warehouse. These products either didn’t have the required quality certification or had fake approval labels. A similar raid at a Flipkart warehouse led to the seizure of nearly $7,000 worth of sports shoes that were about to be shipped without proper certification.

This isn’t the first time such action has been taken. Just last week, BIS conducted similar raids in Tamil Nadu, finding products being stored and sold without the necessary quality checks.

Amazon and Flipkart dominate India’s e-commerce space, which was valued at around $57–$60 billion in 2023. Experts say this number could jump to over $160 billion by 2028. But with stricter rules and increasing scrutiny, these companies are facing more challenges.

In fact, last year, an investigation found that both companies gave special treatment to certain sellers, which was against competition laws. In 2021, another report claimed Amazon secretly helped a small group of sellers, though the company denied any wrongdoing.

With regulators tightening the rules, e-commerce companies in India may have to be more careful about the products they sell.