New Delhi: The early onset of summer and heatwave conditions have thrown normal life out of gear in various parts of the country.
Maximum and minimum temperatures are hovering well above normal in most parts. Delhi yesterday recorded a maximum temperature of 39 degrees Celsius, which is seven degrees above normal.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), maximum temperatures are above normal by 5-10 degrees Celsius over many parts of northwest, central and northeast India, Gujarat and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim. They are above normal by 3-5 degrees Celsius over remaining parts of the country except west coast where they are near normal.
Minimum temperatures are also above normal by 4-8 degrees Celsius over Rajasthan, West Uttar Pradesh, northwest Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal and Sikkim and some parts of northeastern states and by 2-3 degrees Celsius over remaining parts of the country outside south peninsular India where they are near normal.
Idar in Gujarat recorded the highest temperature of 43.4 degrees Celsius, while the Andhra Pradesh capital Hyderabad recorded 40 degrees Celsius yesterday.
IMD has issued a warning saying heat-wave conditions would continue to prevail over some parts of Gujarat, parts of Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh, east Maharashtra, southwest Uttar Pradesh, south Chhattisgarh, Telangana, interior Orissa and Jharkhand during next 48 hours.
"We have been witnessing above normal temperature in many parts of the country in March for the past six years," said an IMD official.
The weather department says heatwave conditions will only intensify further in the coming days.
