New Delhi:
The northern and eastern parts of the country simmered at above normal temperatures on Thursday due to the scorching summer sun and hot winds.
The capital Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 45.4 degree Celsius, the highest so far this season.
Thursday's maximum, which was five degrees above normal, bettered this summer's high of 45 degrees recorded on Wednesday.
The minimum also rose four degrees above normal to touch 31.2 degree Celsius, up from the previous day's 28.2 degrees Celsius.
A blistering heat wave continued to sweep Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh with mercury hovering in the range of 41 to 46 degrees Celsius at many places.
Chandigarh braved yet another scorching day while hot and humid conditions prevailed in Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar, Amritsar, besides other towns in Punjab.
In Haryana, Hisar, Gurgaon, Bhiwani, Ambala and Rohtak were among the towns that experienced sweltering heat.
The MET office has forecast no immediate relief from the ongoing hot weather conditions in the region.
The mercury kept on soaring in the desert state of Rajasthan with Churu recording a maximum temperature of 48.7 degree Celsius, the highest of the season.
Normal life was affected in other parts also where Sriganganagar and Bikaner recorded 47 and 46.8 degrees respectively.
Kota, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer recorded day temperatures of 46.3, 45.2, 44 and 43.9 degrees Celsius respectively on Thursday.
In Jharkhand, one person died of sun stroke in Latehar district on Thursday as heat wave swept across the state with most districts recording over 41 degree Celsius.
A labourer, who had gone to cut wood at Jamuna village in Latehar district, collapsed and died after suffering sun stroke.
Latehar registered 43.2 degree Celsius.