Delhi records highest ever temperature of 52.3 degrees Celsius

The maximum temperature in Delhi breached the 50 degrees Celsius-mark for the first time on Wednesday, with the weather station in Mungeshpur recording a maximum of 52.3 degrees Celsius, Press Trust of India reported citing weather officials. 

The Delhi suburb had recorded 49.9 degrees Celsius a day earlier.

Indian Meteorological Department regional head Kuldeep Srivastava said the temperatures rose in the outskirts of Delhi as these are the first areas to be hit by hot winds from Rajasthan.

“Parts of Delhi are particularly susceptible to the early arrival of these hot winds, worsening the already severe weather. Areas like Mungeshpur, Narela and Najafgarh are the first to experience the full force of these hot winds,” Srivastava said.

Soaring temperatures also sent power demand to an all-time high of 8,302 megawatts (MW) on Wednesday, PTI reported. 

It is the first time in history that Delhi’s power demand has crossed the 8,300-MW mark. 

A couple of hours after Delhi recorded the country’s highest-ever temperature, the national capital received showers, bringing some respite from the extreme heat.

Delhi has been reeling under severe heatwave conditions, with the maximum temperature hovering around the 50 degrees Celsius mark and the minimum around 30 degrees over the past few days.