By IANS
Jaipur : Intense summer heat continued to paralyse life in Rajasthan Sunday, a day after the desert state recorded its highest temperatures in 12 years, and weather officials said there would be no respite over the day.
On Saturday, Sriganganagar recording a blazing 48.9 degrees Celsius while in the rest of the state it was between 42-49 degrees. Such abnormal weather was last recorded on May 9, 1995, when the mercury touched 49.9 degrees Celsius in Barmer. On May 10, 1956, Alwar had recorded a maximum of 50.6 degrees.
People preferred to remain indoors due to the heat and the roads wore a deserted look.
The local metrological department said there would be no change in temperatures in the next 24 hours.
"The maximum temperatures are likely to remain between 42-46 degrees over Rajasthan with heat wave over some parts," a met official said.
"It is becoming really unbearable with even the air conditioners failing to provide comfort from the heat," said Pratap Singh, a local resident.
The normally bustling markets were empty, hitting the shopkeepers' business. "No one is coming to buy things. A few people venture out only late in the evenings. Our business has been hit hard because of the hot weather," said shopkeeper Sunil Batra.
The only people doing brisk business are ice cream and cold drink vendors as well as watermelon sellers.
"My business in the last week must have gone up by at least 30-40 percent," said Girdhar, an ice cream vendor.
On Saturday, Churu recorded 47.2 degrees while Bikaner was 45.8 degrees Celsius. Jaipur was 44.9 degrees, Kota 44.9, Jaisalmer 44.8 and Barmer 45 degrees Celsius. In Churu, the fire brigade dripped water on roads to help bring down the temperatures.