JOIN USRains lash parts of the country
Heat wave continued across the country with Banda in Uttar Pradesh recording a high of 45 degrees Celsius even as rains lashed several parts bringing some respite from the scorching heat.
In Kerala, Palakkad recorded the highest maximum temperature of 40.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Kozhikode (38.3), Kannur (37.4), Punalur (38.3) and Trivandrum (35.6).
In Uttar Pradesh, light to moderate rains occurred at isolated places but there was no respite from heat with Banda recording the highest temperature of 45 degrees Celsius.
Lucknow recorded 35 degrees on Wednesday while Allahabad too recorded a much lower 37 degree. The Weather office has predicted dust storm accompanied by rains at several places in the next two days.
Overcast conditions and light drizzle with some short sunny spells prevailed in the national capital with the maximum temperature being recorded at 39.9 degrees Celsius, a notch above the normal. At Palam observatory, the maximum temperature was recorded at 42.1 degrees. The MeT Office has predicted overcast conditions for Thursday along with the possibility of light rain and thundershowers in some parts of the city.
In Odisha, the mercury level remained above the 40 degree Celsius mark in 13 places of the state with Sonepur being the hottest at 44.2 degrees Celsius.
The number of suspected sunstroke death cases has increased to 152 of which 14 have been confirmed as heat-related ones, a report from the office of the Special Relief Commissioner said.
Sonepur was followed by Bhawanipatna and Titlagarh at 43.5 degree Celsius.
Showers in Steel City
In Jharkhand, Garhwa remained the hottest place with 43 degrees Celsius, while some places remained cloudy and a few experienced rain or drizzle.
Jamshedpur with a maximum temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius, received 6 mm rainfall during the day, providing relief to the steel city after weeks of high temperatures.
In West Bengal, temperatures in the city and the districts dropped 3 to 4 degrees after Tuesday night’s squall bringing much needed relief to the people.
Kolkata recorded a maximum temperature of 33.3 degrees Celsius during the day.
In Patna, showers in the early hours of Wednesday brought much-needed relief to the people who were sizzling at 44 degrees for the last fortnight. Nearby districts Gaya and Jehanabad too witnessed light drizzle, while far off places like Purnia and Katihar saw rains with thunderstorm.
The MeT department had earlier predicted rainfall in many parts of Bihar this week. “In the next two days, Bihar will witness rainfall in many areas which will bring respite from the blistering heat-wave,” IMD director AK Sen had said on Tuesday.
Peak summer in TN
In Tamil Nadu, the first day of the peak summer season 'Agni Natchathiram', which commenced on Wednesday, did make any significant change in the temperature, which was expected to increase.
The highest temperature of 41 degrees Celsius, recorded in Salem and Vellore, is one degree less compared to Tuesday's heat.
MeToffice here said that most of the northern districts were cloudy in the morning, which reduced the temperature significantly in many places including Chennai. The 'Agni Natchathiram' is expected to end on May 29. Weather report also said the heat wave conditions likely to prevail at isolated places over Tamil Nadu.
Mild showers in Gujarat
In Gujarat, the south-westerly to westerly winds prevailing at lower levels over the region led to cloudy skies, with some parts of Saurashtra region receiving mild showers bringing down the scorching mercury levels in the state.
According to the MeT department, Amreli, which had clocked the highest temperature in the state with a maximum of 41.5 degrees Celsius, later in the evening witnessed showers.
Other than Amreli, Rajkot in Saurashtra region too saw a maximum temperature of 41.3 degrees, with Kandla port in Kutch recording 41.1.
Ahmedabad saw mercury at 39.6 degrees, with state capital Gandhinagar at 39 degrees, Baroda at 38.4 and diamond capital Surat far cooler at 35 degrees. The temple city of Dwarka frequented by tourists on the other hand recorded one of the lowest maximum temperature during the day at 32.1 degrees Celsius. 11 killed in lightning
Even as heat wave took the lives of 41 people in different parts of Telangana on Tuesday alone, eleven people died after being hit by lightning as thunderstorms lashed parts of Telangana on Tuesday and Wednesday, reports DHNS from Hyderabad.
They died of lightning strike in Karimnagar, Nizamabad,and Ranga Reddy districts.
With freak weather blowing hot and cold over Telangana for a fourth consecutive day, rains and thunderstorms affected normal life in the state particularly during the evening time. Rains and winds uprooted trees, hoardings and electric poles disrupting power supply. Heavy rains coupled with squally winds disrupted traffic on all major roads here on Wednesday. Three cars were damaged with trees and hoardings crashing due to squally winds. However, the rains have provided the much sought after relief from oppressive heat. Met office has forecast light with squalls in most parts of the state under the influence of an upper air trough extending from Chhattisgarh to south Tamil Nadu while passing over Telangana. The IMD forecast thunderstorms for Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Kadapa and Chittoor of Andhra Pradesh. Heat wave conditions are likely to prevail over some parts of Anantapur and Kurnool.