Heatwave batters India as mercury nears 45°C, but relief likely in northwestern plains soon, says IMD
NEW DELHI,APR 19 : Heatwave conditions continued to prevail on Tuesday as the temperature crossed the 40 degrees Celsius mark in most parts of the country. In Delhi, too, hot weather conditions persisted for the third consecutive day with some weather stations recording the maximum temperature at least five degrees Celsius above normal.
However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said a western disturbance active in the western Himalayan region will provide some relief from the soaring temperatures in the plains of northwest India starting Tuesday.
“Latest Satellite and radar observations show the movement of an intense convective cloud mass across Punjab, Haryana, J&K, Himachal Pradesh, leading to favourable conditions for light to moderate rainfall with occasional intense spells of intense rain along with isolated thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and hailstorms over the region during next 3-4 hours,” IMD said.
Heat wave conditions have been prevailing in most parts of the country with the maximum temperature hovering near 45 degrees Celsius in some states. In Haryana, sizzling heat swept across Hisar as the mercury settled at 41.4 degrees Celsius, according to the MeT department.
In Punjab, Bathinda recorded a maximum temperature of 41 degrees Celsius. The mercury settled at 36.6 degrees Celsius in Amritsar and at 41.2 degrees Celsius in Patiala.
Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, recorded a high of 39.4 degrees Celsius. Notably, the maximum temperatures in the two states have been hovering above normal limits for the past one week.
Gangetic West Bengal also sizzled under high day temperatures on Tuesday, as the mercury hovered over 40 degrees Celsius in several places, with heatwave conditions prevailing in the western districts, the Met Department said.
The weather department has predicted severe heatwave conditions in isolated pockets in Gangetic West Bengal for the next two days. Hot and humid weather is very likely to continue in Kolkata and adjoining areas.
Similarly, Prayagraj and Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh were the hottest at 44.2 degrees Celsius. Lucknow also recorded the maximum temperature of 41.3 degrees Celsius. The weather department however, has predicted rain/thundershower at isolated places over western parts of the state.
Chittorgarh in Rajasthan recorded the maximum temperature at 43.2 degrees Celsius, followed by Kota (42.8 degrees), Banswara (42.7 degrees), Alwar (41.7 degrees Celsius).
In Bihar, Patna recorded the maximum temperature at 44.1 degrees Celsius, the highest this season. Sheikhpura district was the hottest at 44.4 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, closely followed by 43.2 degrees Celsius in Banka, Jamui, Nawada, Khagaria and Rohtas.
In view of the prevailing heatwave, the district administration issued an order directing all schools to wind up classes by 10.45 am from Wednesday. An order issued by Patna District Magistrate Chandra Sekhar Singh said, “The district administration prohibits academic activities for all classes (including pre-schools and anganwadi centers) after 10.45 am in all schools of the district.”
“The school authorities are directed to reschedule their timings of academic activities in conformity of the order, which will come into force from April 19,” it stated.
The Met department issued an orange alert warning of severe heat wave conditions for two days from Tuesday in Patna, Banka, Jamui, Nawada, Aurangabad, Supaul and several other districts.
Besides, a yellow warning was also sounded for Begusarai, Nalanda, Gaya, Arwal, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Buxar, Khagaria and Munger.
Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district administration has also ordered schools to remain shut for three days from Wednesday due to soaring temperatures, reported PTI.
Heatwave conditions persisted for the third consecutive day in parts of Delhi on Tuesday, with some weather stations recording the maximum temperature at least five degrees Celsius above normal.
Cloudy weather and light rain may provide some relief from the heat on Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The IMD said a western disturbance active over the western Himalayan region is expected to bring light rain in the northwestern plains starting Tuesday.
Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan are likely to experience isolated to scattered rainfall during April 18-20, it said. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are also expected to experience heavy rainfall on April 18-19.
MeT has also predicted light rain and thunderstorms in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur and Bikaner divisions and in Jaipur, Ajmer and Bharatpur divisions on April 19 and 20.
It has also predicted a fall in temperatures by 2-3 degrees in the next two days.
-The India Today
