Residents of Delhi-NCR received some relief as rain and hail lashed the region on Thursday evening, bringing the mercury down. The mercury had been soaring over the past week, with maximum temperature nearing the 40 degrees Celsius mark.
According to the India Meteorological Department, thunderstorm with light to moderate intensity rain would occur over and adjoining areas of many parts of West, South-East, South, Central, North-West Delhi, New Delhi, East, South-East Delhi & NCR ( Loni Dehat, Hindon AF Station, Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, Chhapraula, Noida, Dadri, Greater Noida, Gurugram), Pilakhuwa, Modinagar and light intensity rain Badaun, Atrauli, Pahasu (UP) during next two hours.
The maximum temperature recorded during the day, however, was 36 degrees Celsius while the minimum was recorded at 23.4 degrees Celsius, according to the IMD.
The IMD has also forecast a wet spell over northeast India with possibility of isolated heavy rainfall during the next three-four days. Light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorm/lightning is very likely over the Western Himalayan Region during next two days and isolated rainfall with thunderstorm/lightning/gusty winds over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Uttar Pradesh during next 24 hours. Isolated hailstorm very likely over Uttarakhand on Friday.
The previously forecast heatwave conditions are likely to prevail in various parts of India for now, with no significant change in the maximum temperature.
"Heat wave conditions likely to continue over East India during next two days and abate thereafter," the IMD said in its bulletin on Thursday. In the wake of the intensifying heatwave in several parts of the country including the coastal state of Odisha, the Odisha government has preponed summer vacations in all schools across the state, and for all classes. The state government released an official order announcing the early arrival of summer vacations in schools. All government, private, and aided schools across the state will close from April 21 for summer vacations 2023. Notably, schools in Odisha were also asked to close following the intensifying heat in the state.