Scorching heat back in Odisha; rains in some coastal states

New Delhi: Blistering heat conditions returned in most parts of Odisha after a two-day respite and maximum temperatures crossed the 40-degree mark in many parts of the country, even as some coastal states received rains.

A squall and dust storm accompanied by scattered light rains in parts of the national capital provided respite from the heat.

Palam, Lodhi and Ridge areas received traces of rainfall, while the Safdarjung observatory, whose recording is considered official for Delhi, registered a high of 40.1 degrees Celsius.

Searing heat returned in most parts of Odisha today after a two-day respite with Titlagarh being the hottest place in the state at 44 degrees Celsius.

The whole of western Odisha and some other areas sizzled in the gruelling heat as the mercury breached the 40-degree mark in at least 11 places.

Balangir was a close second to Titlagarh recording a high of 43.7 degrees Celsius, while it was 42.5 degrees Celsius in Bhawanipatna, 42.2 degrees Celsius in Sambalpur, 42.1 degrees Celsius in Angul and 42 degrees Celsius in Jharsuguda.

There was, however, a dip in temperatures in some areas following a nor'wester which brought some respite to the people.

Sunstroke has claimed at least three lives in the state this summer so far with casualties reported from Bargarh, Angul and Balangir districts.

In most places of Rajasthan the mercury crossed the 40- degree mark, except Sriganganagar which registered a high of 39 degrees Celsius.

Barmer and Kota were the hottest with the mercury touching 42.8 degrees Celsius mark in both the places.

Jaisalmer recorded a high of 42.3 degrees Celsius, followed by Churu at 42.2 degrees Celsius, Jodhpur at 41.8 degrees Celsius, and Bikaner 41.6 degrees Celsius.

Bihar too witnessed a rise in maximum temperatures with Gaya being the hottest district at 42.6 degrees Celsius. In state capital Patna, the mercury soared to 40.4 degrees Celsius from 38 degrees Celsius yesterday.

In Punjab and Haryana, maximum temperatures dropped below normal limits by a few notches at many places.

Hisar and Narnaul in Haryana experienced hot weather and recorded maximum temperatures of 41.8 degrees Celsius and 41 degrees Celsius respectively.

However, Ambala recorded a below-normal maximum temperature of 34.9 degrees Celsius while Karnal registered a high of 38.2 degrees Celsius.

In Punjab, Ludhiana registered a maximum temperature of 33.4 degrees Celsius while Patiala recorded a high of 35.5 degrees Celsius.

The weather was dry throughout Uttar Pradesh as day temperatures rose in Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Faizabad, Allahabad, Bareilly and Agra. Banda recorded the highest maximum temperature in the state at 42.2 degrees Celsius.

Dry weather prevailed in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha region, where Akola recorded a maximum temperature of 43.4 degrees Celsius.

Day temperatures were appreciably above normal in some parts of Assam, Meghalaya, Saurashtra and Kutch areas, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.

However, rainfall occurred in parts of coastal and interior Karnataka, Kerala, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.