New Delhi: The national capital is witnessing partly cloudy skies for three days bringing relief to people from the sweltering heat. The cloudy skies kept the mercury in check in Delhi on Wednesday, with the maximum temperature settling at 34.4 degrees Celsius, six notches below normal, according to the India Meteorological Department. The capital logged a minimum temperature of 23.6 degrees Celsius.
A slight increase in temperature -- up to 41 degrees Celsius -- is predicted over the next three to four days but there is no forecast of a heatwave for another week, the IMD said.
Delhi's 24-hour air quality index (AQI) was recorded in the 'moderate' category at 175 at 10 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.
The city breathed its cleanest air in 134 days on Tuesday as the AQI stood at 89, in 'satisfactory' category.
Temperature soars in Rajasthan
The mercury in major cities of Rajasthan rose by one to four degrees Celsius on Wednesday and Phalodi became the hottest place in the state with a maximum temperature of 43.2 degrees Celsius, said the weather department.
Jaisalmer recorded a maximum temperature of 42.6 degrees Celsius, Barmer 42.5 degrees Celsius, Chittorgarh 41.8 degrees Celsius, Kota and Bikaner 41.6 degrees Celsius, Anta 41.3 degrees Celsius, Bhilwara 41.2 degrees Celsius, Jodhpur 40.8 degrees Celsius, Ajmer 39.5 degrees Celsius and Sri Ganganagar 38.8 degrees Celsius.
The mercury settled at a high of 38 degrees Celsius in Jaipur, 37.5 degrees Celsius in Churu, 37 degrees Celsius in Pilani, 36.9 degrees Celsius in Alwar and 36 degrees Celsius in Alwar.
On Tuesday night, temperatures were recorded in the range of 20.7 degrees Celsius to 30.8 degrees Celsius in most parts of the state.