Story highlights Temperature at the town of Phalodi hits 51 degrees Celsius

Breaks the previous record of 50.6 degrees Celsius, set in 1956

(CNN) India recorded its highest-ever temperature on Thursday when the heat in the town of Phalodi, in the western state of Rajasthan, shot up to a burning 51 degrees Celsius (123.8 degrees Fahrenheit).

It was the second day in a row the town experienced temperatures in excess of 50 degrees Celsius.

Other towns in the state, such as Churu, also recorded highs of about 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) the same day.

In New Delhi, the capital, the temperature reached nearly 47 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.

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