Sweltering day in Delhi (Lead)

May 18th, 2011 - 11:04 pm ICT by IANS  

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) The capital reeled under a blazing sun Wednesday, with Delhiites waking up to this season’s hottest morning. The maximum temperature rose to 42.3 degrees Celsius later in the day, three notches above average.

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

The hot morning forced many to stay indoors, even as some office-goers left home early in a bid to avoid the heat.

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

Meanwhile, roads remained deserted in the afternoon and people dared to step out of their air conditioned homes and offices only in the evening.

According to the IMD, similar weather conditions will prevail Thursday and the maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 42 and 30 degrees Celsius respectively.

“The skies will be partly cloudy in the morning but the day would be clear and bright,” added the IMD official.

Tuesday was the hottest day in the last five years as the maximum temperature soared five degrees above normal at 44.1 degrees.

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