New Delhi: Delhi residents continued to reel under the scorching heat with the mercury rising to 43.7 degrees Celsius, the highest recorded in April in the past 52 years.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), there seems to be no respite from heat wave conditions on the weekend as the maximum is likely to hover around 44 degrees Celsius.
"The maximum temperature recorded was 43.7 degrees Celsius which was eight degrees above the average. Saturday was hottest day in the month of April since 1958," IMD director BP Yadav told IANS.
The minimum temperature recorded Saturday was 26.5 degrees Celsius, a good six notches above the average for this time of the season.
Delhi Friday recorded 42.9 degrees Celsius.
April this year has been unusually hot and weather officials attributed the blazing heat to the lack of western disturbances over Delhi.
"However, things are expected to improve with likelihood of a western disturbance which will lower the temperature in the capital by two to three degrees from Monday," Yadav added.
The streets of the capital were mostly deserted look with people avoiding stepping out in the hot weather.
"Driving a motorcycle in this temperature was just like a bad dream. It was so hot, I felt as if my skin as burning," said Rakshit Gupta, a resident of Rohini area.
Shagun Sharma, who works with a private company, said: "I sat at a bus stop for 15 minutes as I was feeling completely dehydrated. It's impossible for people who travel in buses. I fear what will happen in May when summer is at its peak."
The increase in temperature shot up the power demand in the capital with several areas suffering without electricity for hours.
"The power demand reached 3,830 MW Saturday which is very high for this time of the year. The main reason behind such high demand is the unprecedented heat," an official of the Delhi power department told IANS.
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