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.
After literally turning a deaf ear to the farmers’ issues for over a year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, November 19, 2021, in a dramatic move, announced the withdrawal of the three controversial farm laws, which were at the heart of the farmers’ protests across the country.
Earlier, Dhesi sent a letter, signed by over 100 British MPs and Lords, to Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the ongoing farmers' protests, asking him to raise this matter with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi when they next liaise.
The Chief Minister told the media here that for more than a year since the Central government had brought three agriculture laws for the benefit of farmers, especially small and marginal ones, unfortunately, some farmer unions had been protesting on the Delhi borders.
While the Centre's announcement to repeal three farm laws is seen as a political decision with eye on forthcoming assembly polls in five states, the BJP claims that it has nothing to do with elections as the party has won many states after laws were passed by the Parliament.
On January 12 this year, the Supreme Court had stayed the implementation of the three farm laws after scores of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh pitched their tents on various Delhi borders in protest against the three laws.
A nine-member committee of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the consortium of protesting farmers' bodies, will be meeting on Saturday, and it is likely to put forth four main demands. The meeting will also decide whether the SKM will go ahead with the originally announced 'March Towards Delhi' programme on November 26.
