India, May 24 -- Extreme heat has held large parts of South Asia in its grip since the beginning of March, removing spring from the seasonal calendar. March was the hottest in India since records began to be kept 122 years ago, with temperatures consistently 3degC-8degC above average, breaking many decadal and some all-time records in several parts of the country, including the western Himalayas, the plains of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The heat was combined with below-average rainfall, leading to the country's wheat-growing regions losing much of their harvest. At least 3,000 wildfires scorched the country, which meant Delhi recorded the worst air quality ever seen in April....