North grapples with searing heat wave

North battled a searing heat wave with temperature in Allahabad soaring to 46.7 degree Celsius but there was a slight relief for Delhi and neighbouring areas which were hit by dust storm and thundershowers in the evening.
The national capital also reeled under heat wave, however, storm and light rains made the evening pleasant.
Meteorological department termed the storm as "cumulonimbus" and attributed it to the Western Disturbance over Pakistan.
At least 12 flights were diverted due to the storm, said an IGI official.
Thousands of people were stranded outside Metro stations and on the roads in Delhi as traffic almost came to a halt due the storm.

The maximum temperature in the city was recorded at 42.8 deg C while minimum settled at 29.1 deg C. Both minimum and maximum temperatures were two notches above the normal level.

However, the mercury dropped by at least five degrees soon after the storm hit the city.
In Uttar Pradesh, there was no respite from heat wave and the highest temperature was recorded 46.7 degree C at Allahabad.
The day temperature rose in Allahabad, Varanasi, Lucknow and Jhansi divisions. Gorakhpur, Faizabad, Kanpur, Bareilly and Agra divisions witnessed an appreciable rise.
Similar conditions prevailed in Haryana and Punjab, however, some parts witnessed dust storm and light rains.

Narnaul in Haryana was the hottest place in both states as it sizzled at 45.5 deg C, up by four notches above normal.
In Punjab, Ludhiana and Patiala registered mercury at 39.7 deg C and 40.4 deg C while Amritsar had a high of 38.6 deg C. Ludhiana received rainfall of 0.4 mm.
Union Territory Chandigarh settled at 39.9 deg C.