Heatwave alert: These Indian cities surpass 50 degrees Celsius in 2024

NEW DELHI: As an unrelenting heatwave engulfs northern India, several cities have witnessed temperatures soaring past the 50-degree Celsius mark, shattering records and pushing the resilience of millions to the brink.
From the national capital of Delhi, where a weather station fleetingly recorded an astonishing 52.9 degrees Celsius, to the parched terrains of Rajasthan and the bustling streets of Haryana, the mercury has skyrocketed, signifying severe climatic conditions.
Delhi
In the midst of an intense heatwave gripping Delhi-NCR, a weather station in the capital sent newsrooms across the nation into a frenzy when it reported a temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, the highest officially recorded in India.
However, the reading is yet to be deemed "official." IMD officials stated that the reading at Mungeshpur could be attributed to "sensor error or localized factors," as it significantly surpassed temperatures recorded at other stations by nearly 4 degrees (3.8) - the next highest being 49.1 degrees Celsius at Najafgarh.
IMD clarified that while a city can experience localized pockets of extreme heat, Mungeshpur is an 'automatic weather station' known to occasionally produce erroneous readings. A team has been dispatched by IMD to Mungeshpur to investigate the matter.
Churu, Rajasthan
Churu in Rajasthan recorded a scorching temperature of 50.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, the highest of the season thus far, underscoring the "unprecedented" severe heatwave conditions prevailing across northern India.
Pholodi, Rajasthan
Temperatures in Phalodi, Rajasthan, skyrocketed to a blistering 50 degrees Celsius last week, as a heatwave swept through vast swathes of India, challenging the endurance of millions, including those who ventured out to cast their votes in the sixth phase of the ongoing general elections.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), 50 degrees Celsius is the highest temperature recorded in the country since June 1, 2019, when Churu, also in Rajasthan, registered a scorching 50.8 degrees Celsius.
Sirsa, Haryana
Sirsa's maximum temperature on Tuesday reached a searing 50.3 degrees Celsius in a heatwave-gripped Haryana, where the mercury surpassed 44°C during peak hours at 18 stations, overwhelming the electrical infrastructure.