Min temperature breaks 40-year record

Soaring temperature and a dust haze made life difficult today in the Indian capital as the city recoded its highest minimum temperature for June in over 40 years.

Soaring temperature and a dust haze made life difficult on Thursday in the Indian capital as the city recoded its highest minimum temperature for June in over 40 years.

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Delhi's minimum temperature, 34.7 degrees Celsius was seven degrees above average for this time of the year, an official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The previous highest minimum was 34.6 degrees -- recorded on June 22, 1969.

Thursday's minimum temperature was higher than Wednesday's 34 degrees Celsius, which broke a five-year record for June.

The weatherman reported "suspended dust" -- or dust in the air, making breathing particularly difficult for patients suffering from asthama.

According to the IMD, the rise in the minimum temperature was due to the suspended dust particles in the sky which trap heat in the atmosphere and the prevailing westerly winds.

"Loose substance from Rajasthan has come to Delhi," the official said.

The temprature is expected to come down on Friday with the Met department forecasting the maximum to be at 39 degrees and minimum at 33 degrees.