R.Parthibhan/AP Civic workers remove dead fish floating at a partially dried up lake in Ambattur, Chennai, India, Tuesday, June 18. In pictures: Water crisis and heatwave in India

R.Parthibhan/AP Civic workers remove dead fish floating at a partially dried up lake in Ambattur, Chennai, India, Tuesday, June 18.

Swathes of India are sweltering under a severe heatwave with temperatures touching a blistering 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in the northwest of the country.

The hottest place in India was the town of Churu in the desert state of Rajasthan, where the mercury rose to an unbearable 50.8 degrees Celsius (123.44 degrees Fahrenheit) on June 1. The following day temperatures there hit a high of 48.9 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit).

Chennai's water supply comes from four reservoirs, all of which are almost completely dry because the monsoon rain that replenishes them has not come on time. Satellite imagery is making very clear just how low their reservoirs are.

Severe heatwave warnings are currently in effect for portions of north and west India. The worst of the heat is expected to abate in the next few days but heatwave warnings will persist through the middle of the week.