Sri Ganganagar hottest at 48.2 degrees Celsius, as heatwave grips north India
Northern India continued to sizzle under blistering heat on Wednesday, with Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar recording the highest temperature in the country at 48.2 degrees Celsius, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
The IMD classifies a heatwave in the plains if the maximum temperature exceeds 45 degrees, while temperatures above 47 degrees are categorised as a severe heatwave.
Sri Ganganagar's recorded temperature was 5.5 notches above normal, while several other regions in the desert state witnessed mercury hovering around 46-47 degrees Ceslisus. Pilani was the second hottest place in the state at 47 degrees Celsius, followed by Bikaner at 46.6 degrees, Chiru and Jaisalmer at 46.4 degrees each, Phalodi at 46.2 degrees, and Kota at 45.4 degrees.
In Uttar Pradesh, Banda district emerged as the hottest place in the state at 47.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Prayagraj at 46.4 degrees, Jhansi at 46 degrees, Orai at 45.6 degrees, Kanpur (IAF) at 45.2 degrees and Deomali at 45.1 degrees.
Temperatures in neighbouring Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh also hovered between 45 and 46 degrees Celsius. Maharashtra's Vidarbha region witnessed marginal relief compared to the previous day, although temperatures continued to remain around 45 degrees Celsius. Brahmapuri, which has been registering record-breaking temperatures, saw the mercury settle at 46 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the meteorological centre in Dehradun issued an orange alert for several districts in Uttarakhand, forecasting heavy rain, thunderstorms, hailstorms, and squalls over the next few days.
According to the weather forecast, an orange alert is in place for May 28 for Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh districts. These areas are likely to experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hailstorms, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40 to 50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph.
The remaining districts of the state are also expected to witness isolated thunderstorms, lightning, and winds blowing at 40 to 50 kmph.
Nagpur deaths: cops say extreme temperature may be culprit
Nagpur: Amid scorching summer in Nagpur, where the temperature has crossed 46 degrees Celsius, the deaths of 17 people in the last three days at various places, including five at the railway station on Wednesday, are under scrutiny, with police suspecting heat exposure as the likely cause. The deceased include persons found near station premises, on roadsides, beneath flyovers, near markets, gardens and public spaces. Most of them appeared to be homeless or living in vulnerable conditions, according to police. Police suspect that extreme heat and prolonged exposure may have contributed to several of the fatalities.
“Many victims appeared to be homeless or travelling in difficult conditions. The medical reports will confirm the exact causes behind fatalities, but heat exposure is suspected in many cases,” a senior Nagpur Police officer said.
Police have registered accidental death cases in all incidents and are awaiting post-mortem reports to determine the exact causes of death. On May 24, three unidentified men were found unconscious in Pachpaoli, Imamwada and Hudkeshwar areas of Nagpur city. Another body was recovered from a garden near the Aradhana bus stop in Wathoda.
