IMD predicted severe heatwave conditions to prevail over parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, and West Uttar Pradesh as it issued a ‘red alert’ for the states over the next five days.
A blistering heat wave swept through large parts of India for the fifth consecutive day on Tuesday (May 21), severely affecting the health and livelihoods of the residents. No relief is predicted for the next five days in the affected regions, including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and northwest Madhya Pradesh.
The Meteorological Department has issued a red warning for these states, emphasising the need for “extreme care for vulnerable people.” The extreme heat is also affecting the lower hills of Himachal Pradesh, typically a refuge for those escaping the heat of the plains.
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Slight relief for Delhi, power demand peaks
Delhi saw a slight dip in temperatures compared to previous days, but levels remained three to five degrees above normal for this time of year. The maximum temperature in Mungeshpur settled at 44.6 degrees Celsius, followed by Palam (44.4 degrees), Najafgarh (43.9 degrees), Pusa and Pitampura (both 43.4 degrees), and Aya Nagar (42.4 degrees).
According to the IMD, the national capital will be on orange alert on Wednesday. The Met Office has also released a seven-day forecast and has issued a red alert from Thursday to Saturday and urged “extreme care for vulnerable people” due to the heatwave in the Capital city.
The national capital’s peak power demand reached an all-time high of 7,717 MW on Tuesday afternoon, with projections indicating it could exceed 8,200 MW this summer. Resident Welfare Associations in Delhi have demanded coolers, fans, cold drinking water, and medical facilities at polling booths for the May 25 Lok Sabha elections.
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Temperatures soars to 47.8°C in parts of north India
On Tuesday, temperatures soared above 45 degrees Celsius across Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Uttar Pradesh, forcing many to stay indoors during the afternoon. Gujarat experienced the deadly combination of high heat and humidity, with Haryana’s Sirsa recording the highest temperature in the country at 47.8 degrees Celsius.
On Tuesday, Himachal Pradesh saw a marginal drop in temperatures due to thunderstorms and showers, but the local weather department expects temperatures to rise by two to three degrees in the coming days. Rajasthan’s Pilani recorded a high of 47.2 degrees Celsius, with no immediate relief in sight.
Parts of Maharashtra sizzles at 45.2
Several parts of Maharashtra yesterday recorded temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, with Jalgaon reaching 45.2 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). In Mumbai, the Santacruz and Colaba observatories, which monitor the suburbs and the island city respectively, recorded temperatures of 34.9 and 35 degrees Celsius. Other notable temperatures included Beed at 43.3 degrees Celsius, Malegaon at 43, Nashik and Solapur both at 41.8, Parbhani at 41.7, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar at 41.6, Ahmednagar at 41, Pune at 40.6, and Dharashiv at 40.5 degrees Celsius, the IMD reported.
