Half of India reels under scorching sun, Delhi's April average monthly max temp second highest in 72 years
Darpan News Desk IANS, 29 Apr, 2022 12:06 PM
New Delhi, April 29 (IANS) Even as mercury soared beyond 45 degree Celsius across various stations of Delhi-NCR, the continued heat wave has ensured that the average monthly maximum temperature for April 2022, at 40.2 degrees Celsius, is the second highest after April 2010 (when it was 40.4 degrees Celsius) since 1951.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's base station, recorded maximum temperature of 43.5 degrees Celsius, five notches above normal while the stations that recorded maximum temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius include Ridge at north Delhi (45.7), Jafarpur (45.2), Mungeshpur (45.9), Pitampura (45.9) and the highest in Delhi was at Sports Complex near Akshardham temple at 46.4 degrees Celsius.
Gurugram too recorded above 45.9 degrees Celsius.
For Saturday, the IMD has predicted maximum temperature to be around 44 degrees Celsius and minimum to be at 26 degrees Celsius with heat wave conditions at few places and partly cloudy skies.
This is the third wave since March for Delhi-NCR and NW India. On Thursday, the Safdarjung Observatory had recorded 43.5 degrees Celsius, just falling short of breaking the 2010 record of 45.7 degrees Celsius even as several other stations in Delhi-NCR recorded maximum temperatures well above 43.5 degrees Celsius.
On Thursday, senior IMD scientist R K Jenamani had said that Delhi-NCR and entire northwest Indian plains had received no significant rainfall after February 25 and the earliest that these areas can expect relief is on May 2 when there is a possibility of significant rainfall due to a Western Disturbance then.
Channi expressed regret while participating in a virtual meeting chaired by Prime Minister Modi with Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors/Administrators of states and UTs to review the prevailing Covid situation as well as the ongoing vaccination drive.
Unveiling the first set of plans in his Punjab Model with focus on resurrection of Punjab, Sidhu, in the absence of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and his Cabinet colleagues, told the media here: "Punjab Model is people's model, an effort to give a roadmap to return power to people."
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday said that he "personally" feels that alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab had cost the BJP heavily.
India on Tuesday recorded 1,68,063 new Covid cases, taking the total tally to 8,21,446. Although the fresh infections were 6.4 per cent less than Monday when the country logged 1,79,723, the weekly positivity rate has climbed to 8.85 per cent and the daily positivity rate has declined to 10.64 per cent. On the other hand, 4,461 Omicron cases were recorded from 28 states.
Delhi reported a 25 per cent surge in Covid-19 cases after recording 19,166 fresh cases. With this, the infection tally has climbed to 15,68,896. Meanwhile, the city has recorded 17 Covid deaths on the second consecutive day, pushing the death toll to 25,177.
On Monday, after a detailed hearing in the matter, a bench, headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, said the court will set up a committee headed by a retired top court judge to probe the PM's security breach and asked both the Centre and Punjab government to not move ahead with their respective inquiries into the matter.
