State reels under heatwave for seventh consecutive day

Jaipur: Rajasthan continued to reel under severe heat wave for the seventh consecutive day Tuesday.

The meteorological department forecast continued scorching temperatures, with potential relief in Udaipur and Kota divisions. Sriganganagar remained the hottest in the state where a maximum temperature of 46.3 degrees Celsius was recorded, the Met reports said.

There was, though, a minor dip in the temperatures in Jaipur, but that was not enough to be seen as relief. In the morning, a minimum temperature of 31.2 degrees Celsius, almost 3.5 degrees above the normal notch, was recorded. In the afternoon, a maximum temperature of 43.8 degrees Celsius was recorded.

The civic authorities continued the sprinkling of water at many places in the walled city by using the anti-smog gun. Roads were almost empty during the afternoon as people confined themselves to their homes and offices. A large number of people in the evening thronged the outlets serving hot beverages.

The Met office, in its forecast for Jaipur, said that there is a possibility that Jaipur might see a maximum temperature of 45 degrees Wednesday. The border districts, including Bikaner, Sriganganagar, Barmer, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer, remained in the grip of severe heat wave conditions, where a curfew-like situation was seen in the markets. Shopkeepers at these places have decided not to remain at their shops between 11am and 5pm.

Some places in the Ajmer and Udaipur divisions witnessed showers varying from 40mm to 10mm. The Met office has issued a red alert for the areas including Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner, Churu, Pilani, and Jaipur, and maintained that these places are likely to see maximum temperatures on or above 45 degrees Celsius in the coming days.

Except for Udaipur, almost every part of the state is likely to see heat wave conditions in the next couple of days. Also, the Met office said that some places in the Bikaner and Jaipur divisions are likely to see a maximum temperature of 47 degrees Celsius in the coming days.