North and West India reel under severe heat wave conditions

Several parts of north and west India continued to reel under severe heat wave conditions. On Thursday, the mercury soared to 48 °C in Ahmedabad, making it the "hottest day in the city in the last 100 years."

"The maximum temperature in Ahmedabad city was recorded at 48 °C. It has broken a 100-year record. As per the data, the city had recorded 47.8 °C on 27 May, 1916," said Jayanta Sarkar, director, India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Representational image. PTI

Civic officials confirmed one death due to heat stroke in Ahmedabad taking the death toll to heat wave to four this summer and 32 heat-related patients were admitted to government hospitals. Severe heatwave condition continues to prevail across north Gujarat and Saurashtra-Kutch region.

"The severe heatwave condition will prevail till Friday before receding. Westerly wind is likely to bring some moisture which will reduce temperature and offer some respite," Sarkar added.

Apart from Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Deesa in Banaskantha district also recorded the maximum temperature of 48 °C.

Several other cities in Gujarat recorded over 45 °C temperature, including Kandla (47.7), Surendranagar (47.5), Idar (47.2), Amreli (46.8), and Rajkot 46 °C.

The heat wave condition in Haryana and Punjab was not too different. The maximum temperature was recorded at 46 °C in Hisar.

Ambala registered a maximum temperature of 41.1 °C, two degrees above normal, an IMD official said. Chandigarh, where the maximum temperature on Wednesday was 43.1 °C, recorded a high of 41.9 °C on Thursday, three notches above normal.

In Punjab, Amritsar's maximum temperature dropped to 43.8 °C, four degrees above normal.

Ludhiana and Patiala also sizzled recording maximum temperatures of 43.5 °C and 42.5 °C respectively.

Haryana Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that government schools in the state would remain closed from 23 May to 25 June. He also urged private schools to take similar steps.

There was no respite from the scorching heat in lower hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh as dry weather prevailed in the state with Una being the hottest place in the state at 43.4 °C.

Sunder Nagar and Bhuntar recorded a the maximum temperatures at 38 and 36.6 °C respectively, followed by 35.6 °C in Nahan, 33.6 °C in Dharamshala and 33 °C in Solan, Kalpa recorded 25.4 °C, the Met Department said.

Maximum temperature in Shimla settled at 29 °C with the state capital and its surrounding areas experiencing with partly cloudy skies and cool breeze during the day.

Keylong in the tribal Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest at 8.8 °C.

According to the IMD forecast, dry weather conditions will prevail for the next six days with a marginal fluctuation in the mercury.

Meanwhile, Banda in Uttar Pradesh recorded a maximum temperature of 47.2 °C, highest in the state,  followed by Allahabad at 46.7 °C, the IMD said here. Lucknow recorded a maximum temperature of 44.4 °C.

Maximum temperatures in Jhansi was recorded at 46.4 °C, 46 °C in Orai.

Above normal temperature were also recorded in Allahabad and Faizabad divisions.

According to the IMD forecast, rain or thundershowers are very likely at isolated places over east UP, while weather is likely to remain dry over western part of the state.

"Taking soaring temperatures into account, the district administration has decided to close all the schools from 23 May," said District Magistrate Raj Shekhar.

With inputs from PTI