Extreme heat grips N India, Bhatinda sizzles at 480 C

Blistering heat continued in North India on Sunday with Bhatinda in Punjab recording a maximum of 48 degrees Celsius. Heavy rains and thunderstorm were witnessed at Nashik in Maharashtra where three persons died after being struck by lightning on Saturday.

There were no signs of any respite from heat in the national capital where the maximum temperature settled four notches above normal at 44.6 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels oscillated between 44 and 15 per cent. Extreme heatwave conditions prevailed in Punjab and Haryana with Bhatinda sizzling at 48 degrees Celsius, six notches above the normal.

In Punjab, Bathinda was closely followed by Amritsar which recorded a high of 47.5 degrees Celsius, seven notches above the normal.

Chandigarh registered the hottest day of the season at 45 degrees Celsius. It was also the highest maximum recorded in the union territory in the last five years.

In Haryana, Hisar sweltered at 46.6 degrees Celsius while Ambala sizzled at 45.1 degrees Celsius. Narnaul's high settled at 44.5 degrees Celsius.

Light rain was recorded at some places in Rajasthan since Saturday even as rising mercury at some places in the state threw normal life out of gear.

Dabok recorded 2 cm rains whereas light rainfall with thunderstorm was witnessed at isolated places in east Rajasthan.

Sriganganagar was the hottest place in the state at 47.1 degrees Celsius followed by Churu at 46.7 degrees Celsius, Kota 45.2 degrees Celsius and Bikaner 45 degrees Celsius.

Heatwave prevailed at various places in Uttar Pradesh with Banda being the hottest registering a high of 48 degrees Celsius.

Hot weather conditions intensified across Odisha as the mercury breached the 40-degree mark in at least 15 places and Angul recording the highest maximum of 44.7 degrees.