After weeks of sweltering heat, the temperature in parts of Delhi-NCR was recorded at 36.9 degrees Celsius on Friday as rain, thunderstorms, and high winds lashed the national capital.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, similar weather is expected in the capital for the next two to three days, and a heatwave is not projected until May 30.

Light rain in Delhi expected today

Delhi is expected to encounter partly cloudy skies, very light rain, and thunderstorms in one or two spots, the Regional Meteorological Centre said. The maximum and lowest temperatures are predicted to be around 36 and 21 degrees Celsius, respectively.

A western disturbance that is active over the Himalayan region is predicted to cause occasional rainfall over northwest India during the next two to three days, including the national capital and its surrounding districts, IMD said.

Electricity officials claimed that there was a rise in the demand for power this season, hitting 6,916 MW, due to the heatwave. The city’s demand increased last summer peaking at 7695MW and there are predictions that it may even rise to 8100MW this year.  

A heatwave is announced when the highest temperature at a certain location reaches 40 degrees Celsius in plain areas, 37 degrees Celsius in coastal areas, and 30 degrees Celsius in mountainous regions.

The IMD predicted that in May, there would be fewer heatwaves and higher-than-average maximum temperatures in the northwest region of India. IMD also predicted that there is a possibility of a minor delay in the southwest monsoon, which might lead to longer periods of above-average maximum temperatures.  

In a recent study from the University of Cambridge, climate change is to be blamed for the severe heatwaves that are occurring in India. Due to the extreme impact of heatwaves, the study has rated over 90% of the country as being in a state of high caution or danger.

Two more cheetah cubs have died due to rising temperature at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

One cub had died two days ago as the day temperature stood between 46-47 degrees Celsius. Following this, the remaining three were kept under observation and despite all rescue efforts, two of them succumbed to the heat on Thursday.  

Forest Department Chief Conservator JS Chouhan said the cause of their death is due to immense weakness and dehydration in the scorching heat. Further details of the cause can be given after the post-mortem is done, he said. The sole surviving cub is critical and is being treated by a team of experts and veterinarians, said forest officials.

Twitter was awash with reactions. Some users argued the cheetah cubs that had been brought by Prime Minister Narendra Modi  from South Africa were unable to adjust to the new environment. Another user suggested the cheetah cubs should have been sent to the Mukundara Hills National Park in neighbouring Rajasthan. Another decried the decision to bring cheetahs from Africa and supplant them in India and expect them to survive the unique conditions, altogether a wrong move. Another man said he was left speechless at the tragedy.

Some said politics was the only reason that the poor animals had to come from Namibia and South Africa, respectively, only to die in India. They got a response from another user who claimed cheetahs have the lowest survival rate in the world ranging from 5% to 10% and that the issue should not be politicised.

The Supreme Court had expressed concern over the death of three cheetahs in less than two months after their translocation from South Africa and Namibia to Madhya Pradesh and said they could have been moved to Rajasthan instead to better their survival rate.

In his reaction to the deaths among the translocated animals, South African wildlife expert Vincent Van Der Merwe said there will be higher mortalities in the next few months when cheetahs try to establish territory and face challenges from leopards and tigers that have already made the Kuno National Park their habitat.

Aam Aadmi Party national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kerjriwal on Thursday met Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar in Mumbai to foster support in his fight against the Centre moved Ordinance.

The meeting was held at Yashwant Rao Chavan Centre in Mumbai.

Kejriwal was accompainied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, AAP Rajya Sabha MP’s Raghav Chaddha and Sanjay Singh and Delhi Minister Atishi Marlena.

Apart from the AAP leaders having a meeting alone with Pawar, a picture of the meeting surfaced that included senior leaders from both the NCP and AAP were sitting at a table.

In the picture along with Sharad Pawar, Kejriwal and other AAP leaders who accompanied him, senior NCP leaders like Supriya Sule, Parful Patel, Chagan Bhujbal and others can also be seen.

Kejriwal’s meeting comes just a day after his meeting with former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray.

Kejriwal also on Tuesday, had met his West Bengal counterpart and TMC chief Mamata Banrerjee in Kolkata and earlier with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav in his Delhi residence.

Kejriwal is on a nationwide tour to seek the supporter of the leaders from various opposition parties in his fight against the Ordinance promulgated by the Centre.

On Friday, the Central government brought an ordinance that negates the Supreme Court judgement and takes back the power from the Delhi government on transfer and postings of the government officials.

Kejriwal on Saturday, addressed a press conference, where he stated that the ordinance would be challenged once the Supreme Court reopens after the summer vacations on July 1.

The AAP leader had also said he will approach leaders of all the opposition parties across the country to appeal them to vote against the ordinance in Rajya Sabha, if introduced as a bill by the Centre. Kejriwal also said he would reach out to the voters of Delhi and organise rally to seek their support in this fight.