New Delhi. Due to severe heat and heat wave, life has been disrupted. There was intense heat in many parts of north-west India on Friday. The maximum temperature in Najafgarh of west Delhi reached 47.4 degree Celsius, making it the hottest place in the country. Along with this, the mercury crossed 45 degree Celsius at 19 places in Rajasthan, 18 in Haryana, eight in Delhi and two places in Punjab. Whereas, the mercury reached 47.1 degree Celsius in Sirsa, Haryana.

Heat wave will prevail in states like Madhya Pradesh and Bihar

The India Meteorological Department on Friday warned of heatwave conditions in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for the next five days. It has also predicted heatwave conditions in states like Madhya Pradesh and Bihar for the next four days. Light thunderstorms are expected after that, which may lead to a slight drop in temperatures.

There was sporadic rain in some parts of Uttarakhand

Senior Meteorologist Dr Naresh Kumar said that since April till the last few days, continuous western disturbances were affecting North West India, due to which there was sporadic rainfall in some parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Due to this the temperature was not very high.

According to the Meteorological Department, the mercury reached 45 degrees Celsius in many places across the country in May. Temperatures in Punjab and Haryana are also close to 44 degrees Celsius and heat wave conditions are similar to Uttar Pradesh. The Meteorological Department said that during the next five days, hot to severe heat wave conditions are likely to occur in the plains of northwest India and Bihar and heat wave conditions are likely to start in eastern and central India from May 18.

Rajasthan is burning like a furnace

The period of intense heat continued in most of the districts of Rajasthan on Friday. A dozen districts of the state remained hot like a furnace. On Friday, the temperature was recorded up to 47 degrees Celsius in Barmer and Jaisalmer districts and 46 degrees Celsius in Jaisalmer and Churu districts.

Temperatures around 45 degrees Celsius have been recorded in a dozen districts including Bikaner, Jodhpur, Sri Ganganagar. A temperature of 46 degrees Celsius was recorded in Sri Ganganagar on Thursday. Many local bodies including Barmer, Jaisalmer sprayed water on the roads from tankers to provide relief to people from the heat.

Punjab scorched by heat wave

Punjab also experienced intense heatwave. Ludhiana was the hottest. The maximum temperature here was recorded at 46.3 degrees Celsius in Samrala. The maximum temperature in five cities including the capital Chandigarh was above 44 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature in the state was recorded about five degrees Celsius above normal. The Meteorological Department has also issued an orange alert regarding heatwave till May 23.

Heavy rain warning in southern states

Similarly, for the southern states, the weather department said that heavy to very heavy rains are likely over Tamil Nadu, Kerala and South Karnataka in the next five days. The weather department further said that the spell of rain with heavy to very heavy rains is likely to continue over South Peninsular India till May 23.