Large swathes of East and South India remain in the grip of a severe heat wave, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The severe heat wave conditions are expected to persist over East India, including Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and parts of Jharkhand until May 2 before gradually declining.
South India experienced its second-hottest April in terms of maximum temperatures, while the average mean temperature in east and northeast India was the highest for the month in 51 years.
The severe heat has shattered long-standing records in several major cities. Bengaluru witnessed its hottest-ever April, recording 13 extremely hot days including six in a row. Kolkata logged 43 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, its highest April temperature and fourth highest for any month. It was also the second time ever that the city’s April reading touched the 43-degree mark.
The mercury crossed the 47-degree Celsius mark for the first time this season, with Kalaikunda in West Bengal recording a scorching 47.2 degrees C, a staggering 10.4 degrees above normal.
Intense heat wave conditions are likely to persist over East India, including Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and parts of Jharkhand until May 2nd before gradually abating. Isolated pockets could experience severe heat wave conditions during this period. South Peninsular India is likely to continue witnessing heat wave conditions over the next five days in areas like Telangana, Interior Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
Odisha has been reeling under a relentless heat wave spell for 16 consecutive days, the highest number in 10 years for the state.
Northeast India is bracing for a heavy rainfall spell accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds over the next 3-4 days. Isolated heavy to extremely heavy downpours are forecast in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for the Palakkad district from from April 30 to May 4 in Kerala amid heatwave conditions across the state.
(Inputs from ANI)
