At 46.4C, blistering heat cripples city, no relief soon

Varanasi: People had a harrowing time in treacherous heat as the mercury touched 46.4 degrees Celsius in the city on Monday. This was the second time in a gap of 10 days, when the mercury crossed the 46 degree mark. On May 30, the maximum temperature soared to 46.1 degrees Celsius.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature in the city stood at 46.4 degrees Celsius, seven notches above normal. The minimum temperature was also registered two notches above normal at 29.5 degrees Celsius, making life miserable for the people.
Unrelenting heat wave added to the discomfort of the people and experts have claimed there would not be any respite from the blistering heat in coming days.
Markets are wearing a deserted look with people preferring to remain indoors fearing sunstroke. Health experts have advised people to stay indoors during peak heat hours (12 noon to 3pm) to avoid sun stroke and take plenty of fluids like aam panna and fruit juices to stay hydrated.
The weather department has forecast no respite from heat wave in the coming week as the mercury will keep vovering around 45 degrees Celsius. Hot and humid conditions will persist in evening and night.
In the past 10 years, the mercury has touched or crossed the 46 degree mark five times. On June 7, 2014, the maximum temperature was recorded as 46.7 degrees Celsius, while 46.5 degrees Celsius and 46.4 degrees Celsius was recorded on June 4, 2017 and June 9, 2015. All-time record of maximum temperature in Varanasi was 48 degrees Celsius on June 9, 1966.
The weather department said the water-laden winds may lag further and reach Uttar Pradesh 8-10 days late and arrive in June last week. State Met officials said normal dates of monsoon arrival in UP and its capital are June 15 and June 18, respectively, but since it has hit Kerala eight days late, it would arrive in UP between June 23 and 25 if its advancement continues at normal speed. It will hit east UP first and cover Varanasi by June 24-26, Allahabad by June 27-28 and Lucknow only by June 28-29, the officials added.
Monsoon enters UP from two directions, with the Bay of Bengal branch entering through Ballia and the Arabian Sea stream through Lalitpur district of Bundelkhand. The Bay of Bengal branch reaches earlier than the one from Arabian Sea.