Delhi records 47.4 degrees celsius, ‘Red Alert’ issued for next 5 days

The national capital’s maximum temperature on May 20 hit 47.4 degrees Celsius, the highest in the nation, among increasing temperatures across North India.

The heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are expected to persist for the next five days, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which has issued a severe heatwave red alert for Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Chandigarh.

Heatwave conditions are also likely to prevail in several parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, east Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat, Saurashtra, Kutch and Vidarbha till May 25, as per Indian Meteorological Department.

The Delhi government on Monday directed all private schools in the city to announce summer vacation till June 30 with immediate effect. The decision comes in view of the severe heatwave conditions prevailing in the capital city.

Due to the heatwave, IMD has advised “extreme care for vulnerable people” in its seven-day prediction. It also advised staying hydrated by drinking enough water, using ORS, or making homemade beverages like lassi, torani (rice water), lemon water, and buttermilk.