Heatwave sweeps north India

Hot weather conditions prevailed in north India with the mercury hovering above 40 degrees Celsius in many areas today, a day after a severe dust storm, coupled with light rain, brought some relief but also caused 17 deaths in Rajasthan.
In the national capital, it was a hot day as mercury shot up to 41.1 degrees Celsius, one notch above normal for this time of the season.
The minimum temperature was recorded at 22.4 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal, and the humidity levels oscillated between 68 nd 20 per cent, a MeT official said.
Haryana and Punjab braved sweltering weather with heatwave sweeping many parts of the two states and their common capital Chandigarh. Hisar in Haryana recorded a maximum temperature of 42 degrees Celsius, one notch above normal.

Ambala and Karnal recorded above normal maximum temperatures at 40.8 degrees Celsius each. Amritsar in Punjab recorded maximum temperature at 41.8 degrees Celsius, two notches more than normal.
Patiala, too, braved a hot day at 41 degrees Celsius, up three notches while Ludhiana's maximum settled at 40.8 degrees Celsius, also three degrees above normal level. Sultry weather also prevailed in Chandigarh, with maximum temperature settling at 40.3 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal.

In Rajasthan, where the death toll due to yesterday's dust storm rose to 17, heatwave conditions prevailed today.
More than 60 persons were injured in the storm which generated over Bikaner region and advanced to Nagaur, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Sawaimadhopur and nearby region.

However, severe heatwave conditions prevailed in many areas of Rajasthan. Kota recorded a maximum temperature of above 45 degrees Celsius. State capital Jaipur too sizzled at 45.2 degrees Celsius.
According to the MeT department, mercury is likely to rise in the next few days and dry weather conditions will prevail in most parts of the north.