New Delhi:
The searing heat wave continued to grip north India today, even as the national capital and adjoining areas witnessed a marginal drop in temperature, caused by a western disturbance.
Delhi got some respite from the heat with the temperature dropping marginally from yesterday's 44.2 degrees Celsius to 42.4 degree Celsius. The minimum temperature remained at 29.7 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal. According to the MeT department, the drop in temperature was caused by some western disturbance.
Uttar Pradesh continued to bake, with Allahabad recording a high of 47.6 degrees Celsius. The temperature was markedly above normal in Meerut, Varanasi, Faizabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Bareilly, Moradabad, Jhansi and Agra divisions.
Sriganganagar remained the hottest place in Rajasthan, recording a maximum of 45.4 degrees Celsius. Churu, Bikaner, Kota and Jaipur sizzled at a high of 44.8, 42.7, 42.5 and 42.2 degrees Celsius respectively, while other places recorded day temperatures close to 41 degrees Celsius.
There was no let up in the heat wave sweeping Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh as well, with maximum temperatures hovering around 44 degrees Celsius at many places.
Soaring mercury coupled with hot winds forced many to stay indoors in Chandigarh, while Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Moga, Gurdaspur and other towns in Punjab wilted under an intense hot spell.
Haryana was not spared either, with Hisar, Gurgaon, Bhiwani, Ambala, Narnaul, Panchkula and Rohtak experiencing sweltering conditions.