A video, shared by the PTI news agency on X, showed a jawan roasting papad to show the scorching heat in Rajasthan. “A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan roasts ‘papad’ in the sand in #Bikaner, Rajasthan.Bikaner has been reeling under intense heatwave with temperatures touching 45 degrees Celsius,” the agency said in a caption.
Bikaner has been reeling under an intense heat wave with temperatures crossing 45 degrees Celsius. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature recorded on Wednesday is 46.4 degrees Celsius.
Earlier, IMD on Tuesday predicted heatwave to severe heatwave conditions to prevail over parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, and West Uttar Pradesh as it issued a ‘red alert’ for the states over the next five days.
The Met Department said maximum daytime temperatures in several districts of these states may breach the 47°C-mark.
Speaking to ANI, senior IMD scientist Naresh Kumar said, “Temperatures are currently above normal across North West India and we had issued a red alert for the region over the past 2-3 days. Concerning a state-wise forecast, we have issued a red alert in Rajasthan for the next five days. The maximum temperature is likely to inch further up from 45°C and settle at 47°C.”
“In Punjab and Haryana, maximum temperatures have registered a marginal drop due to a prevailing western disturbance but they will increase gradually hereafter by 2 to 3 degrees. We have already issued a ‘red alert’ for these two states. In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, we have issued a red alert for the next five days and an orange alert for northern parts of Madhya Pradesh,” Kumar told ANI.
An extreme temperature division is seen between North and South India. While the North bakes under an unrelenting summer sun, a measure of respite is likely down South, as the senior IMD scientist added that heavy to very heavy rains, up to 12 cm, are likely in Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the next 2-3 days.
(With inputs from agency)