NORTH INDIA UNDER HEAT WAVE

The mercury inched up today in most parts of northern India as the region remained largely dry under the blazing summer sun. The maximum temperature was in the high-30s in Delhi with the MeT office predicting a further rise in the mercury in the national capital. The day temperature was recorded two notches below normal at 38.8 degrees Celsius while the minimum was three points below normal at 24 degrees. Humidity in air fluctuated between 33 and 88 per cent. The maximum yesterday in Delhi was recorded at 36.4 degrees with the minimum having settled at 21.4 degrees. But the weatherman has predicted a rise in temperatures tomorrow with the skies expected to remain clear and the maximum and minimum are tipped to be at 45 and 25 degrees, respectively. The heat continued to trouble people across the states of Punjab and Haryana as the mercury hovered close to the 40- degree mark. Bhiwani in Haryana sizzled at 40.7 degrees, two notches above normal, while Narnaul, too, had a hot day at 40 degrees. The Union Territory of Chandigarh experienced a sultry day at 38.2 degrees, one point above normal. In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a high of 40.4 degrees while Ludhiana and Patiala registered maximums of 39.7 and 39.2 degrees, respectively. The conditions were mainly dry in Uttar Pradesh although rain and thundershowers did occur at isolated places in the eastern parts of the state. Rainfall measuring 90-mm was recored at Ballia while Orai was the hottest place in the state with a high of 43 degrees. But day temperatures fell largely in the Gorakhpur and Varanasi divisions and were appreciably below normal in other places.

46 DEGREE CEL AT BARMAR

Hot weather conditions prevailed in Rajasthan today with Barmer recording the highest day temperature of 46.2 degrees Celsius, followed by Jaisalmer 45.3 degrees. Jodhpur, Bikaner, Ganganagar and Kota recorded maximum of 44, 43.9, 43.1 and 42.9 degrees Celsius respectively, according to the MeT department here. Day temperature hovered above 41 degrees Celsius at most of the other places in Rajasthan. Meanwhile, moderate rainfall also occurred at isolated places in Jaipur division and the weather remained dry at other places. Mahwa and Nangal Rajawatan in Dausa district have recorded 2-cm and 1-cm rains respectively since yesterday. The MeT department predicts light rain at isolated places in the state during the next 24 hours.