Delhi sizzles, Met issues heat-wave warning

Even as the national capital sizzled on Wednesday, with the Palam Observatory registering a maximum temperature of 46.4 degree Celsius, which is highest so far this season, the India Meteorological Department (Met) issued a “severe heat wave” warning for the next three days in most parts of north and central India.

Gujarat, west and east Rajasthan, west and east Uttar Pradesh, Vidarbha, west and east Madhya Pradesh will experience a “severe heat wave” till May 21. There could be some relief as the month ends, the Met said.

In Rajasthan, the heat wave claimed its first victim. A 50-year-old man travelling in a bus from Jodhpur to Pali died due to heat stroke. Churu remained the hottest place in the state, recording a maximum temperature of 49.1 degree Celsius, followed by Jaisalmer (48.8 degree Celsius), Barmer (48.6), Sriganganagar (48.5), Bikaner (48.2), Jodhpur (48) and Kota (47.9). At some BSF points in the border state, temperatures rose above 50 degree Celsius. Jaipur Met office said the heat wave conditions will aggravate in the coming days.

“Heat wave continued to prevail at most places with severe heat wave at a few places over west Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and at isolated places over Haryana and Delhi, east Rajasthan, east UP and central Maharashtra,” the Met said.