Delhi records season's hottest day, no respite ahead

With the maximum temperature settling five notches above average at 45.1 degrees Celsius, Delhi recorded the season's hottest day Tuesday and also the hottest May 21 in the last five years. The Met office has forecast hotter days in store.

The previous hottest May 21 was in 2010 when the maximum temperatures settled at 42 degrees.

The blistering sun along with the heat wave wreaked havoc on the residents of the city, especially the two-wheeler riders who dared to venture out.

"I had gone to Vasant Kunj (south Delhi) from my office in Patel Nagar (west Delhi) on my bike and the heat was scorching... it felt as if my skin was burning," said 38-year-old Pravesh Kumar, a salesman.

The minimum temperature was 28 degrees Celsius - a notch above average for this time of the season - and the maximum humidity settled at 52 percent.

There is no respite in sight as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast similarly hot weather in store for the next few days.

"The heat wave will continue tomorrow (Wednesday) and the temperatures will rise further in the days ahead," an official of the IMD said.

Wednesday's maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 45 and 29 degrees Celsius, respectively.

On Monday, Delhi sizzled at 44.5 degrees Celsius - five notches above the season's average. The highest temperature was recorded in south Delhi's Palam area at 46.2 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperatures have been soaring in the capital since Sunday and have not dropped below the 44-degree mark.