Sriganganagar hottest at 42.4°C as mercury continues to rise in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: There was no respite from heat wave conditions for the third consecutive day on Sunday with most places in the state recording temperatures above normal for this time of year. Sriganganagar was the hottest in the state with a maximum temperature of 42.4°C, the Met office said.
Though mild showers were witnessed at Churu, Bikaner and Hanumangarh districts, the mercury continued to rise across the state.People in Jaipur woke up to the hottest morning of the season so far as a minimum temperature of 25.0°C was recorded. It was followed by a scorching afternoon when a maximum temperature of 38.6°C was recorded. The roads wore an empty look in the afternoon as people confined themselves to their homes. Abrupt power cuts were also reported in the city, which made the heat even more unbearable.
"There has been a continued rise in temperatures in Jaipur. In the next couple of days Jaipur is likely to see a maximum temperature of 40.0°C or even above it," said an officer with the Jaipur Met office.
Sriganganagar was followed by Phalodi and Kota where a maximum temperature of 41.8°C each was recorded. Next on the temperature charts were Dholpur with 41.5°C, Alwar 41.4°C, Banswara 41.4°C, Churu 41°C, Pilani 40.7°C, Sawai Madhopur, Bikaner and Karauli 40.6°C each, Anta (Baran) 40.5°C, Tonk 40.3°C, Chittorgarh and Jaisalmer 40°C each, Ajmer 38.8°C, and Barmer and Jodhpur 38.4°C each.
The Jaipur Met office warned that heat wave conditions will further aggravate in the state in the coming week. "A few places including Phalodi, Churu and Sriganganagar are likely to see maximum temperatures of or above 44°C in the coming week," said the Met officer.
In its forecast, the Jaipur Met office said that a few places in Bikaner division are likely to get mild showers, but the weather would remain dry in rest of the state. Mercury will continue to take an upward swing and heat wave conditions will further aggravate the next 24 hours.