Heatwave spell continues in north India

There was no let-up in the ongoing heatwave conditions in north India as the region braved scorching sun on the last day of the month.

The national capital braved another hot day today with the maximum temperature settling at 41.2 degrees Celsius, two notches above the normal for the season. The MeT department has forecast partly cloudy skies with strong surface winds for tomorrow.

The maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 42 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

The hot weather condition prevailed in most parts of Punjab and Haryana with the mercury settling at an identical 44 degrees Celsius at Hisar and Bhiwani, making these the warmest places in the region.

 

The mercury remained between one to two notches above normal in the region, the MeT office here said. The MeT forecast dry weather in the region during the next two days.

Very light to moderate rain and thunderstorm occurred at isolated places in Uttar Pradesh even as heatwave conditions continued to prevail at some areas over the western part of the state.

On Wednesday, day temperatures were below normal in Faizabad, Lucknow, Agra, Bareilly and Meerut divisions. Orai was the hottest place in the state, where mercury touched 46.5 degree Celsius.

As the heatwave continues in the most pasrts of north India, reptile species are being forced to venture out of their natural habitats and seek reprieve from the sweltering sun in cooler places.

On Wednesday night, the staff at the Jeoni Mandi water treatment plant stumbled upon a rat snake in the bed filter area. The Jeoni Mandi plant is the oldest and largest suppliers of potable water in Uttar Pradesh's Agra

In Rajasthan, the maximum temperature increased by one to two notches in most parts of the state with Sriganganagar being the hottest at 48.1 degree Celsius.

Several other places like Bikaner (46.8 degrees Celsius), Jaisalmer (46.2), Churu (46), Barmer (45.9) faced scorching sun with temperatures touching, or, going beyond 46 degrees Celsius.

The MeT department has forecast duststorm with light rain at isolated places in east Rajasthan and heatwave conditions in one or two pockets of west Rajasthan.