Severe Heatwave Hits North India; Slight Relief Expected Soon

Several states in North India continue to experience severe heatwave conditions, with a slight temperature drop expected in the next 2-3 days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a gradual fall in temperatures.

Delhi recorded only two rainy days in May, the lowest in 10 years. The city noted a 79-year high temperature of 46.8 degrees Celsius recently, with temperatures soaring to 45.8 degrees Celsius.

Heatwave conditions prevailed in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, East Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Vidarbha, West Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Maximum temperatures ranged from 45-48 degrees Celsius on Thursday.

IMD Issues Yellow Alert for Delhi

Delhi continues to face severe heatwave conditions. The IMD has issued a 'yellow alert' for Saturday, predicting generally cloudy skies with the possibility of thunderstorms and dust storms accompanied by light showers and gusty wind. The maximum temperature is likely to reach 44 degrees Celsius.

Deaths Among Election Workers

Dozens of officials on election duty died due to extreme temperatures, exacerbating health conditions. In Bihar, 10 poll personnel died from heatstroke, with the highest fatalities reported from Bhojpur district. In Uttar Pradesh, 13 poll personnel deployed in Mirzapur died following high fever and high blood pressure amid heatwave conditions.

Record High Temperatures Across States

Uttarakhand's capital, Dehradun, saw temperatures touching a record-high 43.2 degrees Celsius on Friday. The city last saw temperatures exceed 43 degrees in 2012.

In Vidarbha, several places recorded temperatures above 44 degrees. Nagpur saw mercury soaring to 45 degrees Celsius on Friday. The city had reported an all-time high temperature of 56 degrees Celsius, though this was later attributed to a malfunctioning temperature sensor.

Severe Heat in Jharkhand

In Jharkhand, four people succumbed to sunstroke on Friday, while 1,326 others were hospitalised as extreme heat affected most parts of the state. Health officials have instructed all district hospitals to reserve air-conditioned rooms and empty beds for heatstroke patients. Most of Jharkhand's 24 districts experienced temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, with areas like Daltonganj and Garhwa seeing temperatures above 47 degrees Celsius.

Rajasthan High Court's Directives

The severe heatwave continues to impact Rajasthan, leading to multiple fatalities. The Rajasthan High Court has issued directives to the state government, mandating compensation for the families of those who died due to the extreme heat. The court also emphasized the need to declare lethal heat waves and cold waves as national disasters.

Monsoon Advances in Northeast

The IMD reported that the Southwest Monsoon has advanced into the remaining parts of northeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of northwest Bay of Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and Sikkim.