48ºC: Delhi sizzles at all-time high heatwave
People stay indoors, try to remain hydrated; some respite likely tomorrow
Mercury touched 48 degrees Celsius in Delhi’s Palam area on Monday — creating a record high for the national capital in June as dry winds throughout the day gave a feel of a hot blower to people who ventured out for work.
The earlier high for the month was 47.8 degrees Celsius recorded on June 9, 2014.
Mahesh Palawat of Skymet said, “The alltime high record for national capital is that of 48.4 degrees Celsius, recorded on May 26, 1998.”
While Palam area sizzled at 48 degrees Celsius, the situation was marginally better at Safdarjung, roughly 14 km away, where the mercury touched a high of 45.6 degrees Celsius on Monday.
Some relief is expected only after Tuesday night — the India Meteorological Office has predicted thunderstorm with “gusty winds”.
IMD scientist Devendra Pradhan said, “We issued a red alert this morning for Delhi. People can expect some decline in temperature only from June 12.”
Mr Palawat said that in May 2016, Phalodi in Rajasthan recorded India’s highest-ever temperature of 51 Celsius.
The nation witnessed the hottest day of all times with the mercury rising as high as 48°C in Palam on Monday.
“The earlier high was 47.8°C as recorded on June 9, 2014,” said Mahesh Palawat of Skymet.
Earlier, the all-time record for the national capital is that of 48.4°C, which was recorded on May 26, 1998.
The temperature, however, was lower at Safdarjung, which is roughly 14 km away. The temperature recorded there was 45.6°C.
In May 2016, Phalodi in Rajasthan recorded India’s highest ever temperature of 51°C (123.8° Fahrenheit).
Hot dry winds—loo— swept the city, compounding the woes of people who had to venture out for work.
People tried to keep themselves hydrated and took precaution to remain indoor or in shade as the Sun rained fire from the sky.
According to the India meteorological department (IMD), in large areas a heatwave is declared when the mercury touches the 45°C mark for two consecutive days and a severe heatwave is when the temperature soars to 47°C for two days on the trot.
In small areas, like the national capital, a heatwave is declared if the maximum temperature is recorded at 45°C even for a day, it said.
Some relief is expected only after Tuesday night. The India Meteorological Office has predicted thunderstorm with “gusty winds.”
“We issued a red alert this morning for Delhi. People can expect some decline in temperature only from June 12,” IMD scientist Devendra Pradhan told the media.
Temperature of 48°C and above has been mostly recorded in Rajasthan this summer. Churu has been the hottest place for days.
Exactly a week ago, 11 of the 15 hottest places in the world were in India while the rest were in neighbouring Pakistan, weather monitoring website El Dorado reported.