Both these states are not expected to get any reprieve from sweltering heat during the next two to three days. Sambalpur, Titlagarh and Talchar were the hottest places in Odisha, while Bankura Beharampur, Bardhaman and Asansol in West Bengal recorded recorded 44.5°C as the maximum temperature on Sunday - the highest maximum in the region.
Kolkata recorded 39°C as the maximum on Sunday. According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the 'City of Joy' will continue to experience day temperature around 40 °C. Other places in Gangetic West Bengal will also not observe any drop in day temperature during this period due to continuation of land winds from the west direction. Skymet Meteorology Division in India indicates toward some post noon or late evening showers but that would not have any impact on the day temperatures whatsoever.
Heat wave in Bihar, UP inching closer
Day temperatures in east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand are also in the early forties. Allahabad and Varanasi in east Uttar Pradesh have near normal day temperatures but Patna, Aurangabad, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur and Chapra were in the grip of heat wave on Sunday. Maximums were recorded 4 to 6 degrees above normal in these places. Daltongunj and Jamshedpur in Jharkhand also recorded above normal day temperatures. The latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India indicates that there will not be any relief from the hot conditions as winds would continue to blow from the plains that are witness maximums settling around 40°C.
Photograph by Biswarup Ganguly