Heatwave worsens in Raj; Barmer hottest at 46.1°C

Jaipur: A day after showers and dust storms brought a brief respite from heatwave conditions, the pangs of summer worsened in the state Sunday as most places recorded maximum temperatures above the normal notch.

Barmer remained the hottest in the state with a maximum temperature of 46.1 degrees Celsius recorded, the Met reports said. Almost every part of the state may experience a severe heatwave over the next two days, warned the Met office. It attributed the climatic change to the active northerly winds and the vanishing of western disturbances.

Jaipur residents woke up to a warmer morning with a minimum temperature of 26.6 degrees Celsius recorded. It was followed by a scorching afternoon with a maximum temperature of 40.4 degrees Celsius recorded. Roads in the city remained almost empty as people confined themselves to their homes on Sunday afternoon. Those out for work were seen treating themselves to cold beverages, including sugarcane juice, and various shakes.

In the week starting Monday, Jaipur is likely to experience a maximum temperature of 45 degrees Celsius, said the Met office. Some parts of the state are likely to see maximum temperatures close to 47 degrees Celsius while several districts are likely to get maximum temperatures at or above 42 degrees Celsius in the coming week, said the Met office.

In maximum temperatures, Barmer was followed by Jaisalmer with 45.5 degrees Celsius, Phalodi 44.2, Jodhpur 43.5, Chittorgarh 43.4, Sriganganagar 43.2, Bikaner and Pilani 42.8 each, Churu 42.6, Kota 42.2, Jalore 42.1, Pali 41.3, Vanasthali 41.2, and Karauli and Fatehpur 40.2 degrees Celsius each.

The ongoing spell of heatwave has also worsened the drinking water crisis in several districts, especially Dausa, Ajmer, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, and Churu.