Indian heatwave alert widened as temperatures soar to 45C

An Indian worker pours water on himself at a construction site (Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP)

Swathes of India from the north west to the south east have been hit by scorching heat, with New Delhi under a severe weather alert.

The Indian Meteorological Department issued a heatwave alert for seven southern and central states last week and broadened it to the capital and some northern states on Monday as temperatures breached normal levels.