JOIN USHeat-wave conditions continued to sweep across north India, with the mercury hovering over the 45-degree-Celsius mark in most places on Sunday, even as the weather department dispelled any hope of immediate relief. Jaipur registered maximum temperature of 47 degrees Celsius, its highest since 1947.
Temperature in the national capital touched 45.1 degrees Celsius, while in and around Palam airport it was 47.8 degrees, the highest in 62 years. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said no relief is likely from the heat wave, and the weather conditions would continue.
The maximum temperature of 45.1 degrees in the capital was five degrees above normal, and the hottest in five years. The minimum stood at 28.6 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season’s average.
The Union Territory of Chandigarh, which sizzled at 45 degrees Celsius, recorded its second-highest June temperature in a decade. In June 2012, it had recorded a maximum of 45.6 degrees.
Punjab and Haryana too reeled under scorching heat, with the mercury hovering above 45 degrees Celsius at most places. Hisar in Haryana continued to be the hottest place in the region, boiling at 46.6 degrees Celsius.
In Punjab, Ludhiana had a maximum of 46.3 degrees, its second-highest June temperature in a decade.
The industrial hub of Punjab had posted the decade’s highest maximum at 46.6 degrees in June 2007. However, Ludhiana’s all-time high had been 47.9 degrees in 1958. Amritsar and Patiala sizzled at 45.8 and 46.1 degrees, respectively.
In Rajasthan, met officials said Sunday's maximum temperature was the highest recorded in Jaipur city since independence. The Met office in Jaipur said the mercury has been rising in Jaipur for six consecutive days for the first time in over 33 years.
Heat-wave conditions continued in most parts of the state, and is expected for another 48 hours, informed Met department officials.
The highest temperature was recorded at Jhalawar and Ganganagar—48.6 degrees Celsius each. Places like Churu, Bikaner and Kota sizzled at 47 degrees Celsius or more. So far, four deaths in the state have been attributed to heat stroke.
However, several agencies that have measured temperature separately have claimed most places in Rajasthan are reeling under temperatures of around 50 degrees Celsius. They said the Met department is deliberately not declaring the correct temperature so that state does not come to a standstill.