On Friday, parts of the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) experienced much-needed rainfall, providing significant relief from the intense heatwave that had gripped the area. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature in Delhi settled at 28.4 degrees Celsius, which is normal for this time of year.
The IMD has forecasted partly cloudy conditions in the national capital for Saturday and Sunday, which is expected to bring further relief from the oppressive heat. The maximum temperature in Delhi is likely to hover around 40 degrees Celsius, as reported by PTI.
In addition to the cooler weather, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded in the “moderate” category on Friday, with a reading of 173 at 1 pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. The AQI categories are as follows: 0-50 (good), 51-100 (satisfactory), 101-200 (moderate), 201-300 (poor), 301-400 (very poor), and 401-500 (severe).
The residents of Delhi have been enduring not only the severe heatwave but also a critical water crisis. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has accused the BJP-led Haryana government of failing to release sufficient water, exacerbating the crisis in the national capital. In response, Delhi Water Minister Atishi began an indefinite hunger strike on Friday in Bhogal, South Delhi, to demand more water from Haryana.
The prolonged heatwave has had a devastating impact across large parts of the country, with 143 deaths recorded and 41,789 people suffering from suspected heatstroke between March 1 and June 20 this year, as reported by PTI.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda has urged officials to visit central hospitals until the heatwave conditions subside to ensure that separate arrangements are made for affected patients and to assess the number of heatstroke-related deaths in recent days.
Sources By Agencies
