Sizzling summer heat continues, Temperature 44.4 Degree C

New Delhi, May 7 (UNI) Delhiites today continued to experience scorching heat conditions for the fourth day running with the mercury still hovering around the 44 Degree C mark.

Though the maximum temperature of 44.4 Degree C, about five degrees above normal, was a slight drop from the "season's hottest" at 44.5 degree C yesterday, it was among the highest for the capital this season.

The sizzling conditions, made worse by hot winds blowing through the air, kept a majority of people of Delhi indoors in the comfort of their coolers and air conditioners.

Fortunately, today was a Sunday, an off day for a majority of officegoers.

However, tomorrow, or for that matter, the whole of next week, is unlikely to bring any relief for the people of Delhi from the scorching heat with the weathermen predicting the heat wave conditions to persist for the next one or two days.

Infact, weathermen have forecast the temperature in the Capital to hover between 42 Degree C to 43 Degree C over the coming week.

The weather office has predicted duststorms or squalls in the Capital towards the evening tomorrow, with light showers predicted for Tuesday, there is no chance of there being a immediate let up in the Summer heat.

The maximum temperature in the capital is likely to be 44 degree C tomorrow.

In fact, the last two days have witnessed the mercury touching a new high for May. Friday saw the mercury recording 43.8 Degree C, which rose to 44.5 Degree C, the highest for the month of May in the last five years.

The last time the mercury touched such higher levels in the month of May was in 2002 when the maximum temperature rose to 46 Degree C on May 19 2002, and touched 45 degrees C on May 10 and May 12 the same year.

The highest temperature in May has been recorded at 47.2 Degree C on May 29, 1944.

Weathermen say that the unusually high temperatures in Delhi at this time of the year is due to the absence of any western disturbance which could bring showers to the Capital.

In this context, they point out that last year, a series of Western disturbances had brought showers in May, thus keeping the mercury at low levels of 39 Degree C.

''Since no such thing happened this year, the temperatures have risen to above 44 Degree C with no relief forthcoming for the people of Delhi,''the weather office said.

The rising mercury has also left Delhiites battling a severe power crisis with the peak demand for power rising with the mercury.

The demand touched 3332 MW on Friday, as against a supply of 2976 MW, leading to a shortfall of 350 MW of power.

UNI AR LS PM1924