Heatwave continues to roast North India; Akola hottest in Maharashtra as Section 144 imposed in city
New Delhi: Heatwave continued to roast many parts of North India. Rajasthan’s Phalodi scorched at 50 degrees Celsius on Saturday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) pointed out on Sunday that this was the highest temperature since June 1, 2019, when Churu recorded 50.8 degrees Celsius. Temperatures in Rajasthan shot up to 48.8 degrees Celsius in Barmer, 48 degrees in Jaisalmer, and 47.2 degrees in Bikaner.
Many places in Himachal Pradesh also recorded unprecedented heat. At least 17 places in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh recorded maximum temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius or above on Saturday, official data indicated.
Akola boils at 45.8 degrees
Over the last two days, Akola has been the hottest city in Maharashtra. The maximum temperature in Akola was over 45 degrees Celsius, as per the India Meteorological Department data. Collector Ajit Kumbhar on Saturday imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code till May 31, prohibiting public gathering, considering the heatwave conditions in Akola.
In a directive, the collector ordered all establishments to make proper arrangements of drinking water and fans for workers and to alter the timings of private coaching classes, and ensure that they should not be held during the afternoon. Workers engaged in the industrial sector should not work in the sun, the order said.
The maximum temperature was 45.8 degrees Celsius on Friday in Akola city, which is located in Vidarbha region. On Saturday, it was recorded at 45.6 degrees Celsius. This is the season’s highest temperature in the city this month, the IMD data said.
Red alert for heatwave
Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra will reel under extreme heat until May 29. Himachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya will also not be spared by the heat. A ‘red’ alert has been issued for Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, west Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.
It is predicted that the warm night conditions could go from bad to worse and aggravate heat-related stress in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan over the next four days.