By IANS, New Delhi : A searing summer sun saw the mercury cross 40 degrees Celsius in most big cities across north and central India Tuesday, with Churu in Rajasthan recording a national high of 46.2 degrees.
Five cities of Rajasthan recorded over 43 degrees Celsius. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ganga Nagar witnessed 45.2 degrees Celsius followed by state capital Jaipur 44.4 degrees, Barmer 44.2 degrees, Bikaner 44 degrees and Udaipur 43 degrees Celsius.
The national capital recorded 40.5 degrees. Hissar in Haryana had 44.4 degrees, five notches above normal. Jammu also saw its temperature cross 40 degrees.
Among other cities, Indore (Madhya Pradesh) registered a maximum of 42 degrees and Amritsar (Punjab) 43 degrees. Agra, the city of Taj Mahal, recorded 41 degrees.
However, weathermen held out some hope with the forecast: “States like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and eastern Uttar Pradesh are expected to experience moderate rain and thundershowers on Wednesday.”
This would have a cooling effect on Delhi where the minimum rose to 26.8 degrees (three degrees above normal), a weather official said.
Parts of Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi could experience a dust storm.
The intense heat has prompted zoo authorities in Jaipur and Delhi to install coolers and fountains to protect the animals.
Delhi citizens had a harrowing time, battling the intense heat as well as power cuts. Several parts of the city experienced up to three hours of power cuts in the day.
“The scorching sun and power cuts have made life difficult. What is agonising is that it is almost as hot both inside the house as well as outside,” said Arati Biswal, an engineer.
The city is facing a shortage of nearly 500 megawatts of power everyday due to some power plants going through repairs.