Heatwave Grips Mainland, Claims Five Lives in Maharashtra

The temperature in various districts of Odisha ranged from 46°C to 47.5°C. (Photo: iStockPhoto)

With March yet to end, nine states across peninsular India's northwest, west, central and north are sizzling under the heatwave conditions, with maximum temperature hovering above 40 degrees Celsius on Thursday.

The states suffering the heatwaves include Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

“Some isolated and large regions of these states are facing the heatwaves... The intensity varies from normal to severe... this is the current situation which is expected to continue for some more days,” an official of the IMD said.

Temperature soared above 40 degrees Celsius in large parts of Maharashtra in the past 72 hours, claiming at least five lives so far, officials said. On Wednesday, Maharashtra’s Bhira village recorded world’s second highest temperature at 46.5 degrees Celsius.

Also Read: Bhira Village in MP Records Second Highest Temp at 46.5 C

Delhi Wakes Upto to The Hottest March Morning

Weather analysts fears that Delhi will also be swept by heatwave condition in the next few days.

Wednesday’s maximum temperature in Delhi was 39.6 degrees Celsius, which was six degrees above normal... from the current trend, it could be said that within the next few days, Delhi will face the heatwave.

Mahesh Palawat, Director at Skymet

In fact, Delhi woke up to the hottest morning on Wednesday, with minimum temperature being recorded at 23.7 degrees Celsius, which is five degrees above the season's average.

Hike in AC Sales

A rise in sale of home appliances like air conditioners and fans due to soaring summer temperatures across western and northern India has led to a sharp increase in the S&P BSE consumer durables and capital goods indices, which touched their 52-week high levels on Thursday.

The consumer durables touched a new 52-week high of 15,132.34 points, while the capital goods index surged to a new high level of 16,335.61 points.

Next three months are expected to be some of the hottest in recent times, according to weather forecasters. Home appliances companies, especially those in refrigerators, air conditioners and fans are naturally to benefit from this.

Vijay Singhania, Founder and Director of Trade Smart Online

(With inputs from IANS)