Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) The mercury remained in the high 40s in most parts of northern India Wednesday even as parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh got a respite with thunder and rain lashing the region.

However, from Punjab to Delhi and to south Uttar Pradesh, there was no relief from the scorching sun.

In the capital the mercury touched 42.3 degrees Celsius, three notches above average.

It was the season’s hottest morning in the city, though it was a couple of degrees lower than Tuesday, which had been the hottest day in the last five years at 44.1 degrees.

The hot morning forced many to stay indoors even as some office goers left home early in a bid to avoid the heat wave and the harsh afternoon sun.

“Usually I leave for office at around 10 a.m. but it was terribly hot. So I left home at 8 a.m. It’s better to compromise on some sleep rather that travelling in the heat,” said 54-year-old shopkeeper Hari Om Chawla.

Most roads in the city remained deserted in the afternoon.

While poor people with no luxury of air-conditioners sweated the scorching day out in their homes, those who had the luxury dared to step out of the cool comfort of homes and offices only in the evening.

“The minimum temperature was six degrees above average at 30.7 degrees and humidity levels wavered between 68 and 19 percent,” an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.

According to the IMD, Thursday will be another scorcher with the temperature expected to hover around 42 and 30 degrees.

Punjab, Haryana and their joint capital city Chandigarh continued to sizzle under scorching sun Wednesday.

The mercury hovered between 40 to 45 degrees in the region.

Chandigarh recorded a maximum of 41 degrees and a minimum of 27.

Haryana’s Hisar town was hottest at 45.2 degrees Wednesday.

Ambala and Karnal towns recorded 41.6 and 42 degrees respectively.

In Punjab, Amritsar, Patiala and Ludhiana cities recorded maximum of 44.8, 42.9 and 43.4 degrees respectively.

“We are expecting mainly clear sky that will also become partly cloudy at some places in Punjab and Haryana in the next 24 hours. Met department has also predicted the occurrence of dust storms and thunderstorms at isolated places in these two states,” a Met official told IANS in Chandigarh.

He added: “In the wake of approaching western disturbances, isolated spells of rain can also occur in most parts of Punjab and Haryana in the next 24 to 48 hours.”

However, rains and thunderstorms lashed parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, lowering the temperature. A cool breeze wafted throughout the day, which brought immense relief to people.

In Varanasi, where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed a rally, there was a strong wind through the day, interspersed with rain and thunderstorm. Allahabad witnessed hailstorm.

The state’s Meteorological office is attributing sudden change to the arrival of easterlies, which caused low pressure area.

However, in parts of Bundelkhand in southern Uttar Pradesh, the mercury continued to rise, with Jhani recording the highest temperature in the state at 46 degree celsius.