The skies played hide and seek on Saturday providing a slight respite to the people as temperature in some parts of the State, including the State capital, dipped a little. The State capital recorded a temperature of 40.3 degree Celsius, 0.5 degree Celsius less than Friday’s temperature of 40.8 degree Celsius.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) it felt like May in March with the early onset of summer. However, the heat wave will subside by April 3.
Hot and dry winds have gripped the State. In most parts of the State, the maximum temperature was in the 40-42 degrees range. Damoh was the hottest in the State on Saturday with 42.8 degree Celsius followed by Khajuraho 42.6, Nowgaun and Khnadwa 42.5 degree Celsius. All major cities of the State except for Indore and Ujjain recorded temperature above 40 degrees. Indore recorded 38.9 and Ujjain 39 degree Celsius. Betul 40.5, Guna 40.2, Gwalior 41.1, Hoshangabad 41.8, Khargone 41.5, Raisen 40.2, Rajgarh 40.2, Ratlam 41.5, Shajapur 40.5, Sheopur 40.4, Chhindwara, Mandla, Sagar, Sidhi and Jabalpur 41, Rewa 41.8, Satna 41.5, Tikamgarh 40.5 and Umaria 41.5 degree Celsius.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this March is the hottest in the last five years with the maximum temperature hovering above the 35 degree mark on most days.
IMD scientists said the heat wave conditions prevailing across state will subside over the next 48 hours.
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are also experiencing high temperatures.