NAGPUR/BHOPAL:

, which has consistently been the

town in Madhya Pradesh all

, was on Friday the hottest in the world. The temperature here was a scorching 47 degrees, the Met department in

said.

The El Dorado weather website recorded Khargone’s temperature as 46.6 degrees Celsius, and listed it as the hottest in the world. All of Vidarbha is boiling in unprecedented heat. Akola, at 46.4 degrees Celsius, was the second hottest in the world. In fact, six cities from Vidarbha featured in the hottest 15 in the world at 7.30pm on the website.

Nine of these are in Maharashtra, and three in Madhya Pradesh — Khandwa in 10th place at 45.1 degrees Celsius and Hoshangabad at 13 with 44.7 degrees. Khargone has been baking in 45-plus heat nearly all of April. In grim irony, it also saw two deaths in surprise thunderstorms 10 days ago. Bhopal, too, baked in 42-degree heat for the fourth consecutive day. The weatherman in Bhopal says this April could turn out to be the hottest in at least a decade.

IMD had declared 2018 as the hottest year since 1901. However, the temperature during this summer is set to break all records. The heatwave notice warns that all cities in Central India will have 0.5 degree higher temperature than normal this summer. At 45.2, Nagpur was the ninth hottest in the world. According to the data of Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), the city recorded the highest temperature of the season till date and was the sixth hottest in the region.

IMD predicts temperature may touch 47° before May. This temperature was nearly three degrees above normal. Other districts of the region which crossed the 45-degree mark are Amravati (45.4), Brahmapuri (45.8), Chandrapur (45.6) and Wardha (45.7).

The met department has issued severe heatwave warning for the next five days in various districts of Vidarbha, including Akola, Amravati, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Yavatmal and Wardha. During this period, the maximum temperatures in the many districts is expected to remain between 45-47 degree Celsius.

Stating that severe heatwave conditions might persist for two days, the department has advised citizens to avoid exposure to heat and dehydration. “Being exposed to heat for a prolonged period might cause health ailments among vulnerable people like infants, elderly and people with chronic diseases. Drink sufficient water even if not thirsty. Consume Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), homemade drinks like lassi, torani (rice water), lemon water, buttermilk, etc to keep yourself hydrated,” RMC stated.

Temperature in Chandrapur is hovering between 44 and 45 degrees since the last few days and 45.6 is the season’s highest. IMD says it may touch 47 before May 1.

Wildlife NGO Habitat Conservation Society (HCS) of Chandrapur has reported the death of nine birds due to excessive heat at Gojra pond which is located 15km from the city. Its president Dinesh Kate blamed the large number coal mines, power plants other industries in area for the high temperature in area.

Kate said activists found three Pond Herons, two Red Wattled Lapwing and Cattle Egret each, a Black Winged Stilt and a Grey Wagtail dead at different spots around the pond.

The volunteers managed to save a Grey Heron which was lying exhausted near the pond. The NGO has reported the matter to the forest department.