46°C and rising, north India sizzles

After a phase of relatively mild summer, temperatures have started rising over large parts of north and eastern India.

After a phase of relatively mild summer, temperatures have started rising over large parts of north and eastern India. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal were caught in the same heat wave though there were chances of thunderclouds appearing in Bihar on Saturday.

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In Uttar Pradesh the maximum temperature was two to five degree Celsius above normal.

Allahabad was the hottest city in Uttar Pradesh and the temperature soared to 46.3°C, five degrees above normal.

Lucknow recorded the season’s highest temperature at 43.3°C, three notches above normal. Varanasi sizzled at 45.6°C.

The forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is that the heat wave will stay because the sky will remain clear. The district magistrate of Lucknow has ordered that schools remain closed.

The district administration also has set up water kiosks by the side of the roads, especially for the benefit of autodrivers and rickshawpullers.

Most of the districts in south Bengal and at least three in north Bengal are reeling under a heat wave over the past few days. The day temperature in some areas hovered around 44°C, which was more than six to seven degrees above normal.

In Kolkata the day temperature crossed the 40°C mark, six degrees above normal.

In most districts of Bihar, the maximum temperature was in excess of 40°C. The only exceptions were some in north Bihar. Though there are chances of rain, Ashish Kumar Sen, director, Radar, IMD, Patna, said: “The rain amount will be so meagre that it will provide relief only an hour or two.”

With inputs from Lucknow, Kolkata and Patna