New Delhi:
The summer sun scorched the Northern and Eastern parts of the country where the temperature at most places climbed above 40 degree celsius.
Hot winds blew across the national capital where the maximum temperature touched the season's highest of 44 degree celsius, three degrees above normal.
In Uttarakhand, Dehra Dun recorded the hottest day of the season with the mercury soaring to 41.4 degrees. It is also the highest temperature recorded in the month of May in the city since 2004 when it was recorded at 41.6 degrees.
Sri Ganganagar continued to remain the hottest place in Rajasthan recording a maximum of 45.7 degrees celsius.
Churu, Kota and Jaipur recorded maximum temperatures of 45.5 degree celsius, 45.3 degree celsius and 43.8 degree celsius respectively whereas Barmer and Bikaner sizzled at 43.5 degree celsius.
Other places also recorded day temperatures between 41.9 degrees celsius to 43.3 degree celsius.
In Punjab and Haryana, the mercury shot up by upto five notches above normal temperature.
Hisar turned out to be the hottest place in both states with maximum temperature well above the 40 degrees celsius mark.
Chandigarh had a maximum of 41 degrees Celsius which was up by three notches above normal.
In Haryana, Narnaul recorded the second highest temperature after Hisar at 44 degrees Celsius, up by three notches.
Temperatures in several parts of Jharkhand also soared to 45 degrees celsius.
In Bokaro and Giridih, it was even hotter at 46 degree celsius. Dhanbad, Dumka recorded a temperature of 45 degree Celsius each while Jamshedpur, Palamau and Hazaribagh also reeled under severe heat wave conditions.