New Delhi: After days of relentless heatwave conditions in the northern states, some relief from the soaring temperatures came on Monday as the weather took a turn late at night. The same is likely to be seen today with a forecast of thunderstorms and gusty winds in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
On Monday, many regions experienced no respite from the sweltering heat, leaving residents to cope with the extreme conditions. Once again, Banda in Uttar Pradesh was recorded as the hottest place in the country as it reached a maximum temperature of 47.6 degrees Celsius which is 5.4 degrees above normal.
Akola in Maharashtra also recorded a scorching 46.9 degrees Celsius while Nagpur and other parts of Vidarbha faced severe heatwave conditions. Parts of Rajasthan also witnessed heatwave conditions, with Jaisalmer recording a maximum temperature of 46.4 degrees Celsius.
Haryana and Punjab also endured hot weather with Rohtak hitting a maximum temperature of 44.2 degrees Celsius. In Punjab, Bathinda was the hottest location, reaching 43 degrees Celsius, according to the Meteorological Department.
In Delhi, the weather department issued a yellow alert for heatwave-like conditions for Monday, with temperatures reaching a maximum of 42.3 degrees Celsius. The city was hit by a spell of dust storm in the evening.
Advisory for States and UT’s
The Centre has asked states and Union Territories to deploy dedicated Heat Stroke Management Units and ensure the availability of ambulance services at all health facilities. The Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Seivastava emphasised the need for the timely dissemination of early warnings and real-time reporting of heatstroke cases on the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) portal.
To protect students from the heat some schools have changed the school timings, while others have begun implementing precautionary measures, especially in Delhi. This include suspending outdoor activities, moving assemblies indoors and some even considering early closure for younger classes.
What to expect today?
Mahesh Palawat of Shymet said that there is a cyclonic circulation over adjoining central Pakistan, northwest Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, which is currently moving towards north-east India. He added, “Parts of Rajasthan and Haryana may receive rainfall tonight on April 27, and the system is expected to reach Delhi on Tuesday and persist till April 30.”
Overall, thunderstorm, lightning, and gusty winds are likely in isolated areas in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. Isolated hailstorm activity is likely over Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday and over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Wednesday.
Is the heatwave finally over?
However, that doesn’t mean that the heatwave conditions no longer persist. The temperatures are projected to remain above normal. With the upcoming change in weather, the IMD has advised people to avoid taking shelter under trees, staying clear of concrete walls, floors, water bodies and electrical conductors. It is also recommended to unplug electronic devices and remain alert for worsening weather conditions.