By IANS
New Delhi : North India continued to reel under a scorching June sun with most areas recording temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius Friday and Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan at a searing 46.6 degrees. Weather officials said that rain clouds were nowhere in sight.
Following close behind Sri Ganganagar was Amritsar in Punjab with a maximum of 46 degrees Celsius.
"It is summer time and almost all cities in north India are experiencing high temperatures. This is nothing unusual," said an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) official.
"There will not be much change in the day temperatures with no rain in sight till early next week," the official told IANS.
While Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh recorded 45 degrees Celsius, Lucknow was 44 degrees. Jaipur saw the mercury cross 43 degrees while Hissar in Haryana recorded a maximum of 45 degrees.
Jammu recorded a whopping 44 degrees Celsius, forcing people to cover their heads with wet towels and caps while outdoors.
The national capital too had no respite, with the city reeling under hot winds and soaring temperatures Friday.
In Delhi, the mercury rose by a degree over Thursday to 43.5 degrees Celsius – two degrees above normal. The minimum temperature was 33.5 degrees Celsius – six degrees above normal.
"The temperature will continue to rise and the heat wave will continue," a weather official said.