Killer heat wave: Kerala breaks 29-year-old record with 41.8 degrees Celsius temperature

Heat wave continued to sweep central and southern states of the country with Malampuzha in Kerala recording the highest temperature in 29 years at 41.8 degrees Celsius, though thundershowers in parts of Telangana gave some respite to the residents braving searing heat.

The western Odisha town of Sonepur was the hottest place in the country, recording the maximum temperature at 46.5 degrees Celsius. Bolangir in the state recorded 46 degrees Celsius and Titlagarh 45.5 degrees.

Dry weather prevailed in north and central India. Parts of Odisha and Rayalaseema continued to reel under intense heat wave conditions.

Delhi had a pleasant morning with the minimum temperature settling at 21.2 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal for the season. Day temperature in the city rose to a maximum of 39 degrees Celsius.

Elsewhere, day temperatures hovered above normal in parts of Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, east Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, interior Karnataka, Kerala and Odisha. Malampuzha in Kerala recorded the highest temperature in 29 years. The previous maximum of 41.8 deg C was recorded on April 15, 1987, IMD officials said.

The temperatures were above normal in Alappuzha, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Kannur, Ernakulam and Kottayam districts.

Several areas have reported drinking water shortage.

Telangana

In Telangana, which has been reeling under intense heat wave for past three weeks, thundershowers in few parts of Hyderabad and Medak brought some relief to people.

However, heat wave conditions prevailed over many parts of Karimnagar, Khammam and Nizamabad districts. The highest maximum temperature of 45 degrees Celsius was recorded at Nizamabad and Ramagundam.

The MeT department said heat wave conditions are "very likely" to prevail over many parts in all districts of Telangana during the next two days."

At least 49 people have died due to heatstroke in Telangana, as per state Disaster Management department.

Bihar

In Bihar, the Patna district administration declared summer vacation in all schools from May 5 in view of the prevailing heat wave conditions. The city sweltered at 44.1 degrees Celsius, which was also the maximum in the state. Bhagalpur and Gaya recorded maximums of 44 and 43.1 deg C, respectively.

Jharkhand

Heat wave conditions continued to sweep Jharkhand with mercury in Dhanbad and Deoghar districts settling at 43 deg C mark. Steel hubs of Jamshedpur and Bokaro had a maximum of 42.9 and 41 degree C, respectively. Lakshadweep too witnessed dry weather conditions.

Punjab, Haryana

In the north, Punjab and Haryana recorded the season's maximum temperatures that hovered around 40 degrees mark.

The maximum in Chandigarh was 39.1 deg C. Hisar was the hottest at 41 deg C in Haryana. In Punjab, Ludhiana and Patiala braved hot weather at 40.1 deg C.

Dry weather conditions prevailed in Uttar Pradesh with Etawa recording a high of 42.8 degrees Celsius.