IMD Issues 'Orange Alert' for Delhi, Heatwave To Continue in Several States

Representational image.

(Photo: PTI)

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an "orange" alert for Delhi and neighbouring areas on Sunday, 5 June, while the ongoing heatwave gripped parts of the national capital, with mercury breaching the 45-degree Celsius mark in six localities.

A yellow alert had already been issued earlier for Monday, which was late converted into an orange alert.

"Orange alert in Delhi. Severe heatwave from 4 June in Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, UP and parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan. Temperature varying between 44-47 degrees Celsius shall continue for four more days. We advise people to venture out carefully as the heat spell is very severe,” RK Jenamani, a senior scientist at the IMD, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

IMD also stated that heatwave conditions are very likely over Jammu Division, Himachal Pradesh, West Rajasthan, north Jharkhand and Vidarbha on 6 and 7 June.

The same will also be observed over Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh during 6 to 8 June.

Meanwhile, Punjab, Haryana-Delhi and Uttarakhand will witness a heatwave during 6 to 9 June.

Further, the IMD also predicted heatwave conditions in isolated pockets over Northwest, Central and adjoining East India during the next three to four days.

Meanwhile, IMD has predicted an intense spell of rainfall likely to continue over Northeast India and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during next five days.

Severe heatwave conditions have gripped parts of Madhya Pradesh, where mercury touched 47 degrees Celsius on Sunday at Nowgong, while at least sixteen towns and cities in central and northwest India recorded temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius and above.

“Heatwave conditions also prevailed over some parts of Vidarbha and over isolated pockets of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, west Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh," an official from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Meanwhile, Mahesh Palawat, vice-president, Skymet Weather, said Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, north Rajasthan and west Uttar Pradesh may see pre-monsoon activity on and off from 10 June, Mint reported.

(With inputs from ANI and Mint.)