Parts of Delhi on Friday witnessed rain, which brought relief from the intense heatwave in the city as the minimum temperature on Friday settled at 28.4 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the season, the weather office said, reported the PTI.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted some relief from the searing heatwave in Delhi over the weekend as the sky is likely to remain partly cloudy on Saturday and Sunday, as per the PTI.
The IMD has predicted thunderstorms accompanied by light rain on Friday in some parts of the city. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 40 degrees Celsius.
Delhi has been reeling under a intense heatwave and a severe water crisis.
According to a senior police official, bodies of more than 50 people were recovered from in and around Delhi in the last five days. Police, however, have not confirmed if they died of heat-related causes.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital was recorded in the “moderate” category with a reading of 173 at 1 pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”, according to the news agency.
Heat wave abates in north India
Meanwhile, the intense heatwave prevailing in north India since June 7 abated on Thursday under the influence of a western disturbance affecting the region, though hospitals continued to report heat-related fatalities among patients admitted over the last few days, according to the PTI.
The IMD said that no heatwave is predicted over most parts of the country in the next four to five days.
The monsoon is predicted to cover central India and most parts of northwest India between June 27 and July 3. The primary rain-bearing system did not make any progress between June 13 and 19, extending the wait for rains in north India amid the sweltering heat, it said.
On Thursday, maximum temperatures ranged from 40 to 42 degrees Celsius in many parts of west Rajasthan; some parts of south Uttar Pradesh and north Madhya Pradesh; and isolated pockets of Haryana, Delhi, East Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
“Heatwave conditions have abated from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, North Rajasthan, North Madhya Pradesh, and many parts of Uttar Pradesh today (June 20),” the weather office said.
(with PTI inputs)
