At 52.3 degree Celsius, Delhi sees hottest day on record

Large parts of northern India were in the grip of extreme heatwave conditions on Wednesday, with Delhi reporting the country’s highest-ever temperature on record at 52.3 degree Celsius, NDTV reported.

A weather station at Mungeshpur in the national capital recorded an ambient temperature of 52.3 degree Celsius at 2.30 pm. This was around nine degrees higher than normal.

The temperature in Delhi was nine degrees above normal a day earlier too, reported The Hindu.

However, a late afternoon downpour on Wednesday brought some respite to citizens in the capital.

India Meteorological Department Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra attributed the heatwave to the absence of western disturbances in northern India in the latter half of May. Western disturbances are weather systems that move eastward after forming over the Mediterranean Sea, bringing cooling winds to North India in summer months.

The heatwave led to an all-time high power demand in Delhi of 8,302 megawatts as citizens switched on power-intensive air conditioners, NDTV reported, quoting unidentified electricity department officials.

The Delhi Jal Board also announced that a fine of Rs 2,000 would be imposed on anyone found to be wasting water, reported India Today. The orders were issued in view of a water crisis in the capital amid soaring temperatures.

Other parts of the country

The India Meteorological Department on Wednesday said that severe heatwave conditions were likely in most parts...

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