It's raining fire in the national Capital as the city recorded its highest temperature of 46.8 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, surpassing its 79-year-old record of 46.4 degrees Celsius set in 1945. While Mungeshpur logged the highest ever temperature in the city at 52.9 degrees Celsius, 13 degrees above normal, areas like Narela and Najafgarh saw temperatures reaching 49 degrees Celsius.
To get relief, heat-stricken residents were seen drinking ORS-laced drinks, using wet towels, and taking multiple baths a day.
Delhi broke all previous records in the country as the previous highest temperature in India was recorded in Rajasthan's Phalodi in 2016 at 51 degrees Celsius.
It is also just 3.8 degrees behind the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth of 56.7 degrees Celsius at the Greenland Ranch in California's Death Valley, which is now aptly referred to as the Furnace Creek Ranch.
The maximum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 46.8 degrees Celsius, which is six degrees above the normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 29.4 degrees Celsius.
However, the weather experienced a sudden change on Wednesday evening as the sky turned cloudy and witnessed light drizzling in some parts, providing short relief to Delhiites. But the short respite was followed by more discomfort due to the humidity caused by light rain.
The roasting heat has led to the Delhiites taking several measures to ensure their well being along with trying to stay indoors as much as possible. However, some residents said it is not easy to be indoors all the time as one has to go and earn a livelihood. People were seen flocking air conditioned buses and preferring the metro for their journey while also spending their time inside air-conditioned shopping malls.
In Delhi' ITO metro station, many, who came to get their passports from the office nearby, were seen taking refuge in the station to beat the heat amid long queues. A 40-year-old woman sitting at the entry passage said it is the best way she could escape the scorching summer heat.
With temperatures nearing 50 degrees Celsius in Mungeshpur and Najafgarh in the last few days, residents said they have been constantly falling ill despite taking many measures to beat the heat.
The Delhi Government's LNJP Hospital has been seeing a spike in the number of patients affected due to heatwave conditions."We have seen a high number of patients affected by the heat this week. Yesterday alone, we received nearly 10 patients who were affected by heat stroke," said Dr Ritu Saxena from Lok Nayak Hospital.
Symptoms like fever, headache, vomiting and unconsciousness are common among such patients, she said.
Saxena advised that people should avoid stepping out, especially during peak hours, and keep themselves hydrated.
Amit Kumar, a resident of Najafgarh, said his family is struggling due to the heat and said they are trying to avoid stepping out as much as possible.
"My brother got sick due to the heat, and now we are taking extra precautions. We're taking traditional remedies like aam panna (unripe mango juice) and using wet towels to stay cool and prevent fainting. The heat is so severe that we are giving the kids multiple baths during the day to stay cool," Kumar said.
Jay Pandit, a resident of Mungeshpur who commutes 30 kilometres for work in Central Delhi, described the challenges of daily travel. "The hot wind feels like burning the skin, and it's affecting my health. How long can you sit inside? A day or two, maybe three, you can't just stay inside. To live, to survive, you have to step out, but managing this heat is tough. I feel headaches and fever most days while coming back home," Pandit said.
Residents of Delhi are adopting various measures to combat the sweltering conditions, such as taking traditional remedies like aam panna and using wet towels to stay cool. Some are taking baths twice a day and trying to avoid stepping out.
On the outskirts of the city in Mungeshpur and Narela, the mercury touched as high as 49.9 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, nine notches above normal.
Amit Singh, a contractor, said, "We can't work from 11 am to 5 pm because of the heatwave. Many labourers have left for their native places, and our business has been affected. We need to work in open areas, which is just not possible these days as the weather is unbearable."
To protect themselves, people are taking ORS and keeping themselves hydrated as much as they can. Rakesh Kumar, a resident of Rajiv Vihar in Najafgarh, said the high temperatures and the hot, dry wind are making people in the area fall sick.
"I commute to Central Delhi on my bike every day. Despite taking all the precautions, I have developed a high fever and body ache due to heat stroke," he added.
With the heatwave in the National Capital, it is the first time in the history that its power demand has crossed the 8,300-MW mark. Power distribution companies had estimated the demand to peak at 8,200 MW this summer. Further, the Delhi Government on Wednesday announced that a Rs 2,000 fine would be imposed on anyone found to be wasting water - washing cars with a hose, letting their water tanks overflow or using private connections for commercial activity.
The IMD later sais there could be an error in sensor data and the data of Mungeshwar site is being examined.
