Two deaths were reported from Agra in west Uttar Pradesh where the maximum temperature soared to record 46.4°C on Thursday, while a 65 year old man died due to sunstroke in Hisar that recorded 46°C as maximum. Four people have died in Gujarat due to heatstroke in the last two days.
In Rajasthan, Bikaner recorded a maximum of 47.4°C, while Jaisalmer registered 46.4°C. Almost all the other weather stations recorded mid-forties day temperature on Thursday. Heat wave conditions also intensified in Amritsar and Ludhiana in Punjab where maximums settled in mid-forties and remained five notches above normal on Thursday.
Major cities in Uttar Pradesh were also hit hard by the ongoing heat wave as streets wore a desolate look in Allahabad that recorded 47.2°C as maximum, while capital Lucknow baked at 45°C. Varanasi also joined the mid-forties maximum temperature club with 45°C on Thursday. According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, westerly winds and clear sky conditions will not let the heat wave to abate for the next few days.
The latest weather update is not indicating any relief in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra during the next two days, Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur observed maximum temperatures settling more than five notches above normal on Thursday, while Nagpur and Akola in Maharashtra recorded 45.4°C and 45.2°C respectively.
Photograph by PTI