Several states in India are reeling under the extreme temperatures, with Bihar, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh reporting dozens of deaths due to heatstroke. Nearly 20 poll personnel deployed in these states during the ongoing Lok Sabha election are among those who succumbed to heatstroke.
Delhi, which broke temperature records this month, noting a 79-year high of 46.8 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, saw mercury soaring to 45.8 degrees Celsius. As per India Meteorological Department data, this was the driest May the national capital saw in 10 years.
Five points on heatwave and monsoon in India:
As per India Meterological Department forecast, heatwave to severe heatwave conditions prevailed on Friday over many parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, East Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Vidarbha, West Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, East Madhya Pradesh, and Vidarbha saw maximum temperatures in the range of 45-48 degree Celsius on Thursday.
As per weather department predictions, gradual fall in maximum temperatures by 2-3 degrees Celsius is likely over Northwest and Central India during next three days. The temperature is likely to drop by 3-4 degrees Celsius over East India, the IMD said.
Delhi continued to reel under severe heatwave conditions. The weather department said the national capital recorded only two rainy days this May, the lowest in 10 years. For Saturday, the IMD has issued a 'yellow alert', predicting generally cloudy skies with the possibility of thunderstorms and dust storms accompanied by light showers and gusty wind. The maximum temperature is likely to reach 44 degrees Celsius, as per forecast.
Dozens of officials on election duty died as extreme temperatures exacerbate health conditions. In Bihar, 10 poll personnel died due to heatstroke, with maximum fatalities being reported from Bhojpur district.
Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, 13 poll personnel deployed in Mirzapur died following high fever and high blood pressure amid heatwave conditions in the region.
Meanwhile, the weather department said the Southwest Monsoon has advanced into remaining parts of northeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of northwest Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam and most parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim.
English (US) ·