Rain likely in Delhi, but no respite from heat for rest of North India

There was no respite from heat in several parts of northern India with Sriganganagar and Phalodi in Rajasthan recording a maximum of over 47 degrees Celsius even as India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala during the next two-three days.

The IMD said heat wave conditions prevailed at a few places over Rajasthan and at isolated places over Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

The national capital continued to reel under heat wave conditions as mercury settled at 42.6 degrees Celsius, two notches above average, while humidity oscillated between 85 and 40 per cent, making it tough for the people.

The MeT office in New Delhi predicted possibility of dust storms and thunderstorms towards today's afternoon and night.

In Rajasthan, heat wave affected normal life in parts of the state, with mercury soaring to 47.7 degrees Celsius in Sriganganagar followed by Phalodi at 47.5.

Kota, Barmer and Bikaner recorded maximum temperatures of 46.8, 46.5 and 46.2 degrees Celsius, whereas the day temperature in Jaipur, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur was at 45.8, 45.5 and 45 respectively.

Heat wave sweeping Punjab and Haryana for the past several days continued unabated with Hisar recording 44.4 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal.

Union Territory of Chandigarh recorded a maximum of 41 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal. In Punjab, Ludhiana recorded 43.8 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal.

According to the regional MeT Department, light rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at isolated places in the two states including Chandigarh.

In Uttar Pradesh, where light to moderate rain and thundershowers occurred at isolated places, the maximum temperature was recorded in Agra at 45.5 degree Celsius.

According to the Met department Siroligauspur received 5 cms precipitation, Dhaurahra 3 cms, and Nawabgunj and Pilibhit 1 cm each.

Day temperatures fell appreciably in Bareilly division and changed little in the remaining divisions of the state.

In Bihar, there was no respite from the heat where the state capital recorded a maximum of 39.4 degrees Celsius. In Gaya, the maximum temperature was recorded at 41.2.

There was no report of rain from any part of the state, however, the MeT department there has predicted rainfall in north and east Bihar over the next two days.

In Odisha, rainfall at several places kept the temperatures below 40 degrees Celsius through out the state except for Sonepur which recorded temperature at 42.5 degrees Celsius and Balangir at 40 degrees Celsius. State capital Bhubaneswar recorded a maximum of 34 degrees Celsius. Baripada received 29.6 mm rainfall and Koraput 27 mm.