According to the Times of India and AFP, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a temperature of 52.3 degrees Celsius (126.14 degrees Fahrenheit) at the Mungerishpur weather station on the outskirts of New Delhi around 2:30 pm. This is the first time temperatures in New Delhi have exceeded 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit), marking the highest temperature nationwide for the day.
The previous day, weather stations in the suburbs of Narela and Mungerishpur in New Delhi also recorded a high of 49.9 degrees Celsius (121.82 degrees Fahrenheit), setting another record high.
In India, temperatures often approach or exceed 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) during the summer, with a record 51.0 degrees Celsius (123.8 degrees Fahrenheit) recorded in the desert region of Phalodi in 2016. However, experts have concluded that heat waves are lasting longer and becoming more intense due to climate change.
Due to the extreme heat, power demand in New Delhi reached a record high of 8302 MW.
The IMD has urged caution for infants, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses during the heatwave. The Delhi state government has taken emergency measures such as reducing the water supply from twice a day to once a day in some areas, warning of a potential water shortage.
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