On Wednesday, as temperatures soared across northern India, Delhi experienced an unprecedented heatwave, with the mercury rising to an all-time high of 52.9 degrees Celsius. This scorching heat wasn't limited to the capital; several other cities in the region also faced extreme temperatures. In Haryana, Mahendragarh and Nuh recorded temperatures of 49.4 and 49 degrees Celsius, respectively, adding to the intensity of the heatwave. Meanwhile, in Uttar Pradesh, cities like Prayagraj and Kanpur experienced sweltering conditions, with temperatures hovering around 48.8 and 48.4 degrees Celsius, respectively. Similarly, Haryana's Rohtak and Sirsa, along with Punjab's Bhatinda, saw temperatures exceeding 48 degrees Celsius.
Moving further west, Rajasthan's Pilani witnessed a scorching high of 48.2 degrees Celsius, adding to the region's heatwave woes. Even Agra in Uttar Pradesh experienced blistering temperatures, reaching up to 48 degrees Celsius. The heatwave also extended to Dehradun, where the city recorded its highest-ever temperature of 43.1 degrees Celsius.
The intense heatwave in Delhi led to record-breaking power demand, peaking at 8,302 MW, highlighting the strain on the city's infrastructure due to the extreme weather conditions. As a response to the heatwave's impact on public health, Bihar's government took the proactive step of closing all schools, coaching institutes, and Anganwadi centers until June 8, following reports of students fainting due to the oppressive heat. Jharkhand, too, faced severe heatwave conditions, with Garhwa district experiencing a record temperature of 48 degrees Celsius. Alerts were issued for several other districts, underscoring the widespread impact of the heatwave across the region.
