Heatwave in Delhi peaked yesterday, with the mercury touching 48 degrees Celsius, the highest-ever in national capital.
Dry winds from Rajasthan and Pakistan caused the temperature to cross the previous highest of 47.8 degree recorded on June 9, 2014.
The Palam observatory of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded the temperature of 48 degree after 3pm, an official of the state-run weather forecaster said.
“Today was the hottest-ever day in the history of Delhi,” the official added.
The IMD’s observatory in Safdarjung, however, recorded the maximum temperature at 45.6 degrees.
According to private forecaster Skymet, the absence of rains over the past two weeks and dry westerly winds led the temperature to soar substantially yesterday.
“There has been no pre-monsoon activity in the past two weeks. So no rains. Also, westerly dry winds from Pakistan and Rajasthan contributed to intensifying the heatwave situation,” Skymet director Mahesh Palawat said.
The western, central, and northern parts of the country yesterday witnessed a surge in temperature, making the heatwave conditions severe.
Meanwhile, a thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and heavy rains disrupted air, road and rail traffic in Mumbai late last night, officials said.
All flights were suspended due to low visibility at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport around 10pm and efforts were underway to resume traffic from the alternative runway.
A United Air Newark-Mumbai flight was diverted to Delhi, the officials said.
Rail traffic was hit on the Central Railway’s Harbour line near Chunabhatti due to a technical snag.
Road traffic also slowed down on the Eastern Express Highway, Western Express Highway and arterial roads due waterlogging in some low-lying areas.
In other news, IMD has put Gujarat on alert with Cyclone Vayu closing in on the Arabian Sea coast bringing heavy rains and winds sweeping across parts of the state at speeds ranging from 75km per hour to a maximum of 135km.
“The system currently is seen as a depression over the Southeast and East Central Arabian Sea and is centred at 11.2°N and 71°E, around 800km South-Southwest of Mumbai,” according to Skymet.