Rain God Blesses Delhi As Capital Sizzles At Highest-Ever Temperature — 52.3 Degrees Celsius

Hours after Delhi recorded the highest-ever temperature in the country at 52.3 degrees Celsius, the national capital experienced rainfall this afternoon, providing some relief from the scorching heat.

The national capital has been suffering under intense heatwave conditions over the last few days. The maximum temperature has been hovering around 50 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is approaching 30 degrees Celsius.

The temperature in Mungeshpur soared to over nine degrees higher than forecasted, marking the second consecutive day of record-breaking heat. This extreme heat pushed the mercury more than a degree above the previous record of 49.2 degrees Celsius set in 2002.

The IMD had previously issued warnings of extreme heat for most parts of the Capital. The weatherman's forecast for today predicted a maximum temperature of 45.8 degrees Celsius. However, at 2:30 PM today, the weather station in Mungeshpur, Delhi, recorded a temperature of 52.3 degrees Celsius, the highest ever recorded in any part of India.

According to Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the regional IMD, areas such as Mungeshpur and Narela on Delhi's outskirts are the first to receive hot winds coming in from Rajasthan, leading to extreme heat conditions.

"Parts of Delhi are particularly vulnerable to the early arrival of these hot winds, exacerbating the already severe weather. Areas like Mungeshpur, Narela, and Najafgarh are the first to feel the full impact of these hot winds," he explained.

Mahesh Palawat, the vice president of Meteorology and Climate Change at Skymet Weather, noted, "Open areas with vacant land experience increased radiation. Direct sunlight and the lack of shade make these regions particularly hot. When winds blow from the west, these areas are affected first. Since they are on the outskirts, temperatures rise rapidly," he added.

Meanwhile as the Capital swelters, air conditioners are operating continuously in residential areas increasing power demand. Officials reported that power demand in Delhi reached an all-time high of 8,302 MW today -- 100 MW more than what power distribution companies had anticipated.

Additionally, a water crisis looms over Capital. Minister Atishi has stated that the Haryana government is not supplying Delhi with its share of Yamuna water, leading to a water shortage in some areas. The AAP government has directed the Delhi Jal Board to create 200 teams to monitor and reduce water wastage. Activities such as washing cars with hose pipes, allowing tanks to overflow, and using drinking water for commercial purposes will now result in a fine of ₹2,000.