Delhi on Wednesday recorded the highest-ever temperature ever as the mercury in Mungeshpur touched 52.3 degrees Celsius, India Meteorological Department (IMD) website showed. The new record comes a day after the national capital saw temperatures touching 50 degrees Celsius.
Hours after the tempertaure breached 50 degrees Celsius mark, the Delhi NCR region witnessed rains along with strong winds on Wednesday evening.
The temperature in Mungeshpur touched 52.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
"Today at Mungeshpur AWS (Automatic weather station), 52.3°C temperature was recorded at 3 pm today... currently heat wave to severe heatwave condition is going on and we need to be alert... right now, in few parts of Delhi, thunderstorm and light rainfall happening...this situation will continue in Delhi-NCR for the next 1-2 hours...for tomorrow we have issued orange alert, there will be 2-3 degrees reduction in the temperature," Dr Kuldeep Srivastava, Head of the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre said.
"On 31st May and 1st June, due to western disturbances, there is a chance of thunderstorm and lightning in the Delhi-NCR and the whole Northwest...by 1st June, there will be 3-4 degrees reduction in the temperature," Srivastava said.
The Safdarjung observatory in the national capital recorded a maximum temperature of 46.8 degrees Celsius, the highest in 79 years, according to official data.
According to the weather agency, the temperature has decreased due to western disturbances. It is expected to continue dropping from today and for the next few days.
Meanwhile, the peak power demand in the national capital clocked 8302 MW, highest ever in the history of the city amid the unprecedented heatwave. The demand surpasses the record created just days earlier, when it touched 8000 MW on May 22.
The capital today recorded a minimum temperature of 29.4 degrees Celsius, 2.8 notches above the seasons' normal, the India Meteorological Department said earlier on Wednesday. The weather agency had predicted heatwave to severe heatwave conditions over most parts of Delhi.
Heatwave conditions are expected to persist in Delhi for the next few days, according to the IMD. The weather department has urged people to take extreme care for vulnerable people due to the heatwave. Due to the rising temperature, there is a very high likelihood of developing heat-related illness and heat stroke in people of all ages, and a significant health concern for vulnerable individuals such as infants, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases. The IMD has advised people to avoid exposure to heat and dehydration.
