New Delhi: Vast swathes of the country`s northern and eastern plains continued to reel under the searing heat wave on Monday, with the mercury settling above the normal mark at several places.
The national capital Delhi, however, got some respite from the heat with the the mercury dropping marginally from Sunday`s 42.4 degrees celsius to 41.9 degrees celsius and the minimum from 29.7 to 29 degrees celsius.
The midsummer sun continued to scorch Uttar Pradesh, with the mercury breaching the 45 degrees celsius mark at several places in the state.
A brief spell of light rain, however, brought some respite to Aligarh.
Day temperatures rose appreciably above normal in Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Faizabad, Lucknow, Meerut and Moradabad divisions and above normal in Kanpur and Jhansi divisions.
Allahabad remained the hottest place in the state, recording 46.9 degrees celsius, followed by Hamirpur at 46.2, Varanasi 45.8 and Banda 45.6 degrees celsius.
West Bengal also reeled under severe heat wave conditions, with temperatures remaining above normal at most places.
Capital Kolkata recorded a high of 40.2 degrees celsius, while the mercury hovered around 45 degrees celsius in Birbhum, Burdwan, Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore districts.
Hot and humid conditions gripped Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh as well, with maximum temperatures oscillating between 41 and 44 degrees celsius at many places.
Chandigarh braved a hot and humid day, while blistering heat prevailed in Ludhiana, Patiala, Jalandhar, Amritsar and other towns in Punjab.
In Haryana, Hisar, Bhiwani, Ambala, Gurgaon, Panchkula and Rohtak were among the towns that simmered under the heat wave.
Rajasthan too sizzled, with Churu recording a maximum temperature of 45.4 degree celsius, followed by SriGanganagar at 44.5 degree celsius.
Bikaner, Jaipur, Kota, Ajmer and Udaipur recorded a maximum of 43, 41.4, 41, 40.2 and 36.9 degrees celsius respectively.
PTI
