Heat wave scorches north India

New Delhi, May 1 (PTI): Intense heat wave conditions swept across northern region as temperature in most areas soared past 40 degree Celsius with mercury in Rajasthan’s Ganganagar city settling at a high of 45.9 degree Celsius. In Delhi, people woke up to another scorching day with the temperature was recorded at 24.2 degree Celsius and the maximum settled at 42.8 degree Celsius higher than yesterday’s 42.1 degree Celsius.

Severe heat wave swept through parts of Haryana and Punjab including Chandigarh with Hisar in Haryana sizzled at 45 degree Celsius. Bhiwani recorded 43.4 deg C, up by three notches than normal, while mercury settled at 43 deg C in Karnal.

Residents of Chandigarh also braved yet another hot day at 41.5 deg C, up four notches. While in Punjab, Patiala sizzled at 42.6 deg C, up five degrees. MeT department has forecast dust storms and thunderstorms with possibility of light rain at isolated places in the two states during the next two days.

In Rajasthan, Ganganagar recorded the maximum temperature of 45.9 degree C and barring Udaipur, maximum temperature in all cities was above 41 degree C, which above three to five degree C more than the average, a met offical said.

Churu recorded a maximum temperature of 45.7, followed by Bikaner 43.6, Kota 43.5, Barmer 43.2, Ajmer, Pilani, Jaisalmer around 42.5 degree C each. In Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow recorded temperature at 43.3 degree Celsius while Allahabad settled at 45.1 deg C, mercury in Varanasi touched 44.2 degree C.

Jaipur administration cuts school hours due to heat
Due to the intense heat conditions, Jaipur Collector Krishna Kunal Wednesday asked primary and middle schools to run the institutions only during morning hours for classes one to eight from May 1. Extreme heat conditions prevailed across Rajasthan with Ganganagar recording a maximum of 45.6 degrees Celsius Wednesday.

Churu and Bikaner sizzled at 45.3 and 44.5 degrees Celsius, respectively, while Barmer, Kota, Bikaner and Jaipur recorded maximum of 44.8, 44.6, 44.5 and 43.9 degrees Celsius, respectively, according to the Met department. For the past three days, the maximum temperature has remained above 40 degrees Celsius in Jaipur. The maximum temperature recorded Wednesday was 43.9 degrees, highest for this summer season so far.

Concerned over the scorching heat, the parents’ welfare society had asked the district administration to change timings.