Scorching heat makes life miserable

The mercury level at 45.7 degrees Celsius here on Thursday gave the national capital the hottest day this summer and also the maximum temperature for the month of May since 2002.

“In May 2002, the maximum temperature was recorded at 46 degrees Celsius,” said a regional meteorological centre official.

The all-time record for the highest temperature, 47.2 degrees Celsius, in Delhi was recorded in 1944.

The maximum temperature on the day was six degrees above average and the minimum settled at 32 degrees, five notches above average.

“The heatwave conditions which will continue and the maximum and minimum temperature are likely to hover around 45 and 32 degrees Celsius respectively,” added the official. “The temperature may register a drop after May 26.”

In Uttar Pradesh, heat wave conditions continued with the mercury rising to 47 degrees Celsius in some parts.

Banda in the Bundelkhand region was the hottest place in the state with 46.8 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures in the other parts of the state also remained around 45 degrees Celsius, sources said.

At least one person has reportedly died of heat stroke in the state capital, according to the sources here.

The Met office said that there would be no respite from the heat wave in the next 24 hours.

Andhra Pradesh’s Adilabad was boiling at 48.8 degrees Celsius. Normal life was totally affected in most districts in Northern Andhra and Telangana regions. As a result of trough formation, monsoon is expected to enter late into the state by at least three days.

Kadampeddur of Adilabad in the Telangana region recorded 48.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday, claimed to be the highest temperature in recent years. Other parts of Adilabad boiled at around 45.3 degrees making it impossible to venture out during day time.

Nidamanur of Nalgonda district recorded 48.7 degrees followed by Odela of Karimnagar, with 48 degree centigrade.

Rentachintala, the stone crushing town of Guntur district, clocked 47 degrees, and temple town Tirupati sizzled at 43.3 degrees.

Hyderabad city boiled with the day temperature touching a peak of 45 degrees Celsius, the season’s highest, as recorded by the Met Department. The official warning from the department is that the prevailing heat wave is likely to continue for at least two more days with the maximum temperature increasing by three more degrees.

The desert state of Rajasthan also saw no respite from scorching heat. Ganganagar recorded the highest of this season reporting 48.6 degrees Celsius on Thursday. According to the Met office, there is no respite from the heat wave in sight.