Dip in mercury, forecasts of rain bring relief in India amid scorching heat wave

NEW DELHI: Dip in mercury and rainfall in different parts of India brought relief to its people on Monday, even as the country continued to reel under scorching heat wave. India has been witnessing heat wave conditions since March, and not just Monday's weather, but forecasts hinting at spells of rain, arrival of monsoon or further drop in temperatures also came as sigh of relief for the citizens.
Maximum temperatures in Haryana and Punjab too came down by a few notches, even as they remained well above normal. Delhi, meanwhile, did not breach the 45-degree mark on Monday.
Delhi sees partly cloudy sky
Delhi-NCR got some respite on Monday with parts of the national capital witnessing partly cloudy skies. The maximum temperature at Safdarjung, Delhi's base station, was recorded at 42.4 degrees, while the minimum was recorded at 30.8 degrees Celsius.
The heat wave conditions abated, thanks to a Western Disturbance over the Western Himalayan Region, IMD said. Partly sky with possibility of dust storm and thunderstorm, have been forecast for Tuesday.
The Delhi Parents Association (DPA), meanwhile on Monday, has written to L-G Anil Baijal, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), demanding that the summer vacation be declared in city's schools immediately in view of the scorching heat.
Slight drop in mercury in most parts of Rajasthan
Most cities in Rajasthan got relief from sweltering heatwave conditions on Monday as maximum temperatures dropped by two to five degrees Celsius. Dholpur was the hottest place in the state with a maximum temperature of 46.1 degrees Celsius.
The maximum temperature in other major cities was recorded between 42.6 degrees Celsius and 39.6 degrees Celsius. The weather department has predicted dust storms in Jhunjhunu, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh and Churu districts during the next 24 hours.
Haryana, Punjab see dip in maximum temperatures
In Haryana's Gurugram, the mercury came down to 44.7 degrees Celsius from 48.1 degrees Celsius on Sunday, according to the meteorological department.
Hisar recorded a high of 42.8 degrees Celsius, down from 47.3 degrees Celsius on Sunday. Sirsa's maximum temperature dropped to 41.8 degrees Celsius from 47.2 degrees Celsius a day ago.
In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a high of 42.6 degrees Celsius, down four notches from Sunday. The mercury settled at 41.7 degrees Celsius in Ludhiana, 42.1 degrees Celsius in Patiala, 41.8 degrees Celsius in Jalandhar and 41.4 degrees Celsius in Mohali.
Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, recorded a high of 41 degrees Celsius.
Dry spell ends in western Odisha
The dry spell in western Odisha ended with moderate to heavy overnight rains. Kotpad in Koraput district received 79 mm of rainfall between Sunday evening and Monday morning. Several areas in Sambalpur, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Kandhamal and Boudh received moderate rainfall, the MeT department said.
It said rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and dusty winds is likely in Odisha over the next three-four days due to strong southwesterly winds from the Bay of Bengal towards northeast and eastern India.
Bolangir recorded a maximum temperature of 42.8 degrees Celsius, the highest in the state, followed by 42.5 degrees Celsius in Subarnapur and Boudh. The mercury settled at a high of 35.8 degrees Celsius in Bhubaneswar and 35.6 degrees Celsius in Cuttack.
Monsoon likely to arrive in MP by mid-June
Madhya Pradesh is also likely to receive respite from heatwave conditions, with the MeT department forecasting a drop in mercury over the next few days. The temperature is likely to fall by two to four degrees Celsius in the next three days, the IMD's said.
The monsoon is likely to arrive in Madhya Pradesh by mid-June, it said.
Rain, thunderstorms in Himachal expected
The MeT department in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla said thunderstorms and rain along with light hailstorms are expected in parts of the state from Monday to Wednesday.
Rain and snowfall are likely in higher altitude areas of the state, it said.
Monsoon advances into Andaman & Nicobar islands
Southwest monsoon advanced into the Andaman and Nicobar islands on Monday, the IMD said, signalling the start of the four-month seasonal rains that are crucial to the largely agri-dependent economy.
The Andaman and Nicobar islands and adjoining areas have been experiencing rainfall due to strengthening south-westerly winds in the lower tropospheric levels, the weather office said.
The onset of monsoon over Andaman and Nicobar islands happened a day late as the IMD had earlier said that the seasonal rains would cover the region on May 15.