People cover their head with cloth to protect themselves from direct heat, in Rajasthan's Ajmer. (PTI photo)

NEW DELHI: Several parts of the country continued to reel under sweltering heat on Tuesday with mercury crossing the 45-degree mark, even as four elderly pilgrims travelling on a train from Agra to Coimbatore died due to extreme heat.

Here is a look at how the intense heat wave conditions have affected people:

Delhi

A day after the mercury shattered all records in Delhi with parts of the national capital recording an all-time high of 48 degrees celsius, Safdarjung observatory - reading of which is considered official for the city - recorded on Tuesday a high of 44.5 degrees celsius, five notches above the season's average.

Humidity levels fluctuated between 52 per cent and 15 per cent in the city.

The weatherman, however, has forecast that the mercury will see a fall in the city.

A dust storm was forecast for Tuesday afternoon, but it is likely to reach Delhi by Tuesday night or Wednesday. It is hovering around Haryana currently, a MeT official said.

Over the next few days, Delhi may experience thunderstorm or dust storm leading to slight rain, said a MeT department official.

Another official said the maximum temperature is likely to be between 41 to 42 degrees celsius on June 12 and 13; 43 degrees celsius between June 14-16; and 39 degrees celsius on June 17 in the city.

Rajasthan

The maximum temperature in most parts of Rajasthan remained near and above 45 degrees celsius.

Though isolated places in east Rajasthan recorded light rainfall and lightening, whereas the western parts of the state witnessed heat wave conditions.

Churu remained the hottest place in the desert state at 47.3 degrees celsius followed by 46.2 degrees in Sri Ganganagar, 45.9 degrees in Kota and 45.1 degrees celsius in Bikaner. Barmer and Jaisalmer also recorded maximum temperatures above 44 degrees celsius.

A senior MeT department official told ANI, "Earlier, the wind used to come from the western side of Rajasthan. However, the direction of the wind has changed. As a result, we have witnessed a temperature fall of two-three degrees in all the North Indian states. It is expected to continue for the next three days and there will be a full respite to the heat wave in the region."

Tamil Nadu

Four elderly pilgrims from Tamil Nadu travelling on a train from Agra to Coimbatore in non-AC coaches died allegedly due to extreme heat.

North Central Railway (Jhansi division) PRO Manoj Kumar Singh said on Tuesday the exact cause of death of the passengers aboard the Kerala Express would be determined after the post-mortem report is available.

The four, including two women, were seated in S-8 and S-9 coaches, which are non-AC, and other passengers claimed that they died due to excessive heat.

They had complained of uneasiness on Monday evening and by the time the train reached Jhansi, three of them had died.

Another passenger, who was in a critical condition, died in a hospital.

The PRO said that in view of extreme heat, special arrangements were being made at railway stations for potable drinking water for travellers.

Punjab & Haryana

The maximum temperature hovered close to 45 degrees celsius at most places in Punjab and Haryana.

Hisar in Haryana and Patiala in Punjab sizzled at 45.5 degrees celsius, a MeT official said.

Intense heat wave conditions also swept Bhiwani at 45.3 degrees celsius, while Karnal and Narnaul recorded above normal temperature of 44 degrees celsius each.

Chandigarh recorded a high of 43.9 degrees celsius, up by five notches against normal.

Uttar Pradesh

Dry weather prevailed in most parts of Uttar Pradesh with state capital Lucknow recording a maximum temperature of 42.1 degrees celsius, three degrees above normal.

According to the meteorological department, rain or thunderstorm is very likely at isolated places in the state. It also warned that severe heatwave conditions are likely to prevail at isolated places in the state.

Jhansi was the hottest place in the state where mercury soared to 48 degrees Celsius, seven degrees above the normal mark. Allahabad witnessed a high of 46 degree celsius.

Odisha

The temperature soared above 40 degrees celsius in at least 13 places in Odisha.

While the entire western region sizzled under boiling heat, coastal and interior areas of the state also encountered unbearable weather conditions due to rising temperature coupled with high level of relative humidity.

Sambalpur in western Odisha turned out to be the hottest place in the state, recording 45 degrees celsius followed by 44.4 degrees in neighbouring Hirakud and 44.2 degrees in Jharsuguda, the Meteorological Centre here said.

State capital Bhubaneswar recorded a maximum temperature of 40.3 degrees celsius, up from 37.8 degrees celsius measured on Monday, while relative humidity in the city stood at 87 per cent, it said.

The MeT has forecast heat wave conditions to prevail in many parts of the state for at least next three days.

Andhra Pradesh

Many parts of the state recorded highest temperatures of up to 43.6 degrees celsius mostly in the coastal districts of SPS Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna and West Godavari, according to the state Real-Time Governance Centre.

Temperature of over 40-42.9 degrees celsius was recorded in more than 359 locations in the state.

Andhra Pradesh would witness extreme heat wave conditions for the next three days due to the delayed arrival of the southwest monsoon, coupled with cyclone 'Vayu' in the Arabian Sea , a weather forecasting centre said Tuesday.

Temperature in the next three days (June 12 to 14) might touch 43-45 degree Celsius in several districts of central and south coastal Andhra, the Andhra Pradesh Weather Forecasting and Early Warning Research Centre (AWARE) said.

West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, SPS Nellore, Chittoor, Kadapa and Vizianagaram districts could bear the brunt of the heat wave.

Jammu & Kashmir

Heat wave conditions in Jammu continued unabated on Tuesday, with the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir recording a high of 43.6 degrees celsius, the meteorological department said.

The minimum temperature in the city was recorded at 31.2 degrees celsius, it said.

Monday recorded the season's highest temperature at 44.4 degree celsius. May 31 is the second hottest day with a high of 44.1 degrees celsius.

Himachal Pradesh

People of Himachal Pradesh, however, got some respite from the scorching heat as light rains lashed isolated parts of the state.

Shimla and Kufri were lashed by 8mm rainfall each followed by Bhuntar 3 mm, Manali 2 mm, Chamba and Baghi 1mm each and Kangra recorded 0.1mm rainfall.

Una was the hottest place at 44.8 degrees celsius.

There were reports of mild snowfall on high peaks of Lahaul and Spiti.

Rain is also likely to occur in several parts of the state on Wednesday.

The MeT centre has issued yellow weather warning of thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds for plains, low and mid hills of the state on Wednesday.



In Video: Jhansi: 4 Kerala Express passengers die due to extreme heat