Heat wave unabated in North India; Banda records 48.2°C

Severe heat wave continued in the northern region today with mercury soaring to a high of 48.2 degree Celsius in Uttar Pradesh's Banda district, followed by heritage city of Agra which recorded 47.3 degree Celsius.

Residents of Delhi continued to reel under intense heat despite the maximum temperature settling at 43.6 degree Celsius, lower than yesterday's maximum of 45.2 degree Celsius.

There could be some major relief from the scorching heat in the next couple of days as the weatherman has predicted thunderstorm tomorrow and rain on Friday in the national capital.

The heritage city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh, which is about 200 km from Delhi, recorded a maximum temperature of 47.3 degree Celsius, while Banda district registered a blistering high of 48.2 degree Celsius.

Mercury in Allahabad district soared to 47.5 degree Celsius, followed by Aligarh at 45.6, and capital city Lucknow and Meerut registered 44.9 degree Celsius respectively.

In Haryana, Hisar recorded a maximum of 46 degree Celsius followed by Gurgaon at 45.7 degree Celsius. The MeT department has predicted partly cloudy sky with possibilities of thundershowers for tomorrow in Hisar and other areas.

Mercury settled at 45.4 degree Celsius in Bhiwani, followed by Ambala at 44.6 and Chandigarh 44.3 degree Celsius.

Ludhiana district in Punjab recorded the highest maximum temperature in the state at 46 degree celsius, while Amritsar registered 45.6 and Patiala 45.5 degree Celsius.

In the desert state of Rajasthan, Churu and Sriganganagar recorded the highest maximum temperatures of 45.5 degree and 45.3 degree Celsius, respectively. Mercury in Barmer settled at 43, Jaipur and Kota at 44 degree Celsius respectively.

The MeT department has predicted mainly or generally cloudy sky with possibility of rain or thunderstorm in some areas of the State.

In Jammu region, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, mercury soared to 44.5 degree Celsius and Uttarakhand's capital city Dehradun registered a maximum temperature of 38.9 degree Celsius.

Meanwhile, 60-year-old Bholanath Yogi died of heat stroke in Lekhari town of Rajasthan's Kota district, SHO Lakheri Police Station Rakesh Meena said.

Yogi, a resident of Vrindavan in Uttar Prasesh, collapsed on the road yesterday and died on the spot. Doctors at the Community Health Centre confirmed heat stroke as the reason of Yogi's death, Meena said.