NEW DELHI: Sweltering heat prevailed across the country even though the mercury dipped marginally in some areas of north India, including the national capital.
Delhiites experienced another hot day with the mercury settling at 39.6 degrees Celsius, down by a notch from yesterday's 40.6 degrees Celsius. Today's maximum was, however, two notches above the season's average.
The minimum temperature was recorded at 26.3 degrees Celsius, five notches above the normal, a MeT department official said, adding at the Palam observatory, the maximum temperature was recorded at 41 degrees Celsius.
In Rajasthan, most areas sizzled under a blazing sun.
Kota was the hottest in the state at 41.1 degrees Celsius, followed by Jodhpur 40.5. Yesterday, Kota recorded a maximum of 41.5 degrees Celsius.
Among other places in Rajasthan, Churu recorded a maximum of 40.3 degrees Celsius, Barmer 40.2, Dabok 39.6 and Pilani 38.5 degrees Celsius.
Uttar Pradesh continued to reel under scorching heat under a dry spell with the mercury touching 45.2 degrees Celsius in Allahabad. According to the Lucknow MeT office, heat wave prevailed at isolated places and Allahabad was the hottest in the state.
Hisar in Haryana was the hottest place in the plains at 40.2 degrees as maximum temperatures hovered above normal limits in most places in the state and neighbouring Punjab.
Ambala also braved a hot day at 39.1 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal. Chandigarh residents braved the heat at 38.2 degrees Celsius.
In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a high of 37.4 degrees Celsius, Ludhiana 38.8 and Patiala 38.7 degrees Celsius.
In the eastern state of Odisha, scorching heatwave swept across the state, particularly the western region where Titlagarh sizzled under 46.5 degrees Celsius.
The mercury crossed the 40 degrees Celsius mark in many places. Sonepur recorded a maximum temperature of 46.2 degrees Celsius, followed by 45.6 in Hirakud, 45.5 in Bolangir and 45.3 degrees Celsius in Jharsuguda.
In Jharkhand, Jamshedpur recorded the hottest April day in the past five years at 45.2 degrees Celsius. The soaring temperature prompted the authorities to reschedule school timing so as to give relief to the students from the prevailing hot weather conditions.
In Vidarbha in Maharashtra, Akola recorded the highest temperature at 45 degrees Celsius.
It was the season's highest temperature for the city which had recorded a high of 44.7 degrees Celsius yesterday.
Wardha sizzled under 44.9 degrees Celsius and Nagpur 43.6 degrees Celsius. The western region of Maharashtra is facing drought situation.