Delhi Hits Record-Breaking 49.9°C Temperature

The capital experiences its highest temperature ever recorded?

NEW DELHI: Under cloudless skies and with scorching heat and searing winds from Rajasthan, Delhi experienced record-breaking temperatures on Tuesday. The mercury soared to an unprecedented 49.9°C in Mungeshpur and Narela, and reached 49.8°C in Najafgarh, marking temperatures nine degrees above normal.

At Safdarjung, the city's primary observatory, the maximum temperature reached 45.8°C, five degrees above normal and the highest recorded this year.

There is little relief expected over the next two days, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red alert for a heatwave and severe heatwave on Wednesday, and an orange alert for Thursday, when temperatures might see a very slight drop. However, there is a glimmer of hope as the capital may receive very light rain on Friday and Saturday, according to the IMD.

Rain is nowhere in sight in Delhi, but record-breaking temperatures abound, with parts of the capital nearing the 50 degrees Celsius mark.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan's Churu was the hottest place in India on Tuesday, reaching 50.5°C, close to its highest-ever temperature of 50.8°C. In 2016, Phalodi in Rajasthan set the all-time record for the country at 51°C.

"The winds blowing into Delhi have a majority of westerly components from Haryana and Rajasthan. Under this impact, the city, especially its outer areas, is witnessing a significant rise in temperature," said Kuldeep Srivastava, senior weather scientist at the IMD.

Srivastava noted that the westerly winds are dry, leading to a drop in humidity, which affects the city's heat index or "feels-like temperature." "The heat index in the city on Tuesday was 47°C, while a few days ago it was 55°C, even though maximum temperatures were slightly lower then. With lower humidity, the discomfort level is not as high as it was a few days back," he said.

Apart from Mungeshpur, Narela, and Najafgarh, several other areas of the city, including Pitampura, Pusa, and Jafarpur, also experienced a severe heatwave on Tuesday, with maximum temperatures eight to nine degrees above normal.

The situation was similarly intense in the city's neighboring areas. Gurgaon recorded its highest temperature of the season at 47°C on Tuesday, marking the third heatwave day this season. As temperatures soared, a forest fire broke out in the Aravalis near Faridabad's Surajkund around 1 pm on Tuesday. Although the fire department managed to douse the flames within 30 minutes, residents alleged that several acres and trees had already been charred. Noida also sizzled at 47.3°C.

With temperatures exceeding 42°C, people are at risk of heat stroke, a medical emergency marked by a core body temperature often exceeding 104°F (40°C). Doctors warn that heat stroke can lead to central nervous system dysfunction. When the body's thermoregulatory mechanisms fail, it results in extreme dehydration, signaling a critical situation.

Doctors emphasize the dangers of hot temperatures, warning that heat stroke could even trigger a brain stroke in extreme cases. This risk increases when excessive dehydration occurs, thickening the blood and impeding its flow throughout the body.

Meanwhile, the city continued to grapple with poor air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 244 on Tuesday, up from 223 the previous day, on a scale of 0 to 500.