Delhi boils at 48 degrees, all time high as heat wave sweats North India

Despite commence of monsoon in several parts of the country, weather department has predicted no possibility of any respite from heatwave in the next few days in the national capital.

Delhi recorded the highest temperature in history with 48 degree Celsius. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi shattered all records of high temperature with several parts of the national capital witnessing an all time high of 48 degree on Monday afternoon. This summer Dholpur in Rajasthan became the hottest place in the country with a maximum temperature of 51 degree Celsius. Despite commence of monsoon in several parts of the country, weather department has predicted no possibility of any respite from heatwave in the next few days in the national capital. According to IMD, Delhi recorded the highest temperature in history with 48 degree Celsius and became the hottest day in June. Dholpur witnessed the highest temperature of the season. This is the fourth time that the temperature has crossed 50 degree Celsius in June in Rajasthan. New Delhi's previous high of 47.8 degrees Celsius was recorded in Palam on 9 June, 2014. "The Palam Observatory recorded an all-time high of 48 degrees Celsius Monday. The factors that led to this are dry westerly winds, no effect of a western disturbance in the plains and intense heating in the month of June," India Meteorological Department regional weather forecasting chief Kuldeep Srivastava told news agency PTI.  "Southwesterly winds on Tuesday may cause the temperature to drop by one or two notches. However, the heat wave will persist," Srivastava added further. According to reports, the Safdarjung Observatory, which provides official figures for the city, recorded a high of 45.6 and a low of 27.2 degrees Celsius. Hot dry winds- loo - swept the city, compounding the woes of people who had to venture out for work. According to the Indian Meteorological Department, in large areas, a heatwave is declared when the mercury touches the 45-degree mark for two consecutive days and a severe heatwave is when the temperature soars to 47 degrees Celsius for two days on the trot. In small areas, like the national capital, a heatwave is declared if the maximum temperature is recorded at 45 degrees Celsius even for a day, it said. Heat wave condition remained unabated in Odisha, particularly in the western region, with the temperature soaring above 40 degree Celsius in at least 11 places on Monday. With the Monsoon unlikely to make an entry in West Bengal soon, the Met department Monday said that day temperatures in South Bengal are likely to be above normal by two to three degrees Celsius. (With agency inputs)