Delhi sizzles at 44.9 degrees, hottest June 7 in five years

Hot winds and the a blistering sun continued to wreak havoc in the national capital Saturday as the maximum temperature settled five notches above the season's average at 44.9 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest June 7 in the last five years.

No relief is expected Sunday as the mercury is expected to touch 45 degrees Celsius, the Met Office said.

Roads wore a deserted look as traffic remained scarce during the day and Delhiites preferred to stay indoors.

Those who had no choice but to venture out covered themselves in scarves and gloves but got little respite from the scorching heat. Two-wheeler riders in particular had a miserable time.

The riders thronged roadside kiosks selling cold drinks, lemonade and ice-cream.

"I wore a scarf on my face and long cotton gloves to cover my arms from the harsh sun but it seemed the rays permeated through and burnt the skin," said Suraj Kumar, a delivery boy with a fast food chain.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there would be no respite Sunday as the maximum temperature is likely to hover around 45 degrees Celsius.

The minimum is expected to settle around 30 degrees Celsius.

"The sky will remain clear tomorrow (Sunday) and the heat wave will continue in the afternoon," said an IMD official.

Meanwhile, Saturday morning too was sunny and hot as the minimum temperature was recorded three notches above the season's average at 30.8 degrees Celsius.

Friday was the hottest June 6 in the last five years as the maximum temperature settled at 45 degrees Celsius, five notches above the season's average. The minimum temperature was recorded a notch above the season's average at 29.4 degrees Celsius.