India Burning: After Bhira’s ‘World Record’ temperature, Met dept issues heat wave warning

Two deaths due to heat wave were reported till Wednesday in Maharashtra

New Delhi, March 30: Several parts of the country are witnessing an unusual rise in temperature since the last few days. After Maharashtra's Bhira town recorded a searing 46.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday--something quite unusual in March--the Indian Meteorological Department on Thursday has issued a warning of heat wave in several parts of the country for the next 48 hours.

"Hot conditions, including heat waves, are likely to continue till Saturday (April 1), after which temperatures may drop by a degree or two," M Mohapatra, DGM of IMD's National Weather Forecasting Centre, told Times of India. Dr Deepak Sawant, Minister of health for Maharashtra, claimed that heat wave had caused the death of two people till Wednesday.

The IMD issued heat wave warnings for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, south Uttar Pradesh, south Haryana, Chandigarh and interior Odisha. On Tuesday, because of its high temperature, Bhira became the second hottest place in the world.

Like Bhira, Akola in Maharashtra too recorded a high temperature of 44.1 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. Along with Maharashtra several parts of India including Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Rajasthan and Odisha also witnessed dramatic rise in temperature even before the end of March.

The abnormal rise in temperature is due to global warming and large-scale pollution, say experts. On Thursday, Delhiites experienced hottest morning with the minimum temperature recorded at 23.7 degrees Celsius, the highest this year at five notches above the season's average, reported IANS.

The minimum temperature broke the record of Wednesday and weather office expect rise in minimum temperature in the coming days. Residents of states, where temperature is at its peak, have been adviced to remain indoors as much as possible and drink enough water to save themselves from heat wave-related health issues.

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