Mercury crosses 45 degrees in several states, rains in Tamil Nadu

New Delhi: The searing heat wave continued to sweep large parts of the country today, with Banda in Uttar Pradesh being the hottest at 46.4 degrees Celsius, though West Bengal and Tamil Nadu did get some respite following showers there.

As temperatures crossed 45 degrees in many states, including Rajasthan and Gujarat and the country waited for the rains, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted a 6-day delay in the onset of monsoon which was scheduled to strike the southern state of Kerala on June 1.

"Forecast suggests that monsoon onset over Kerala this year is likely to be slightly delayed. The Southwest monsoon is likely to set over Kerala on June 7 with a model error of plus or minus four days," it said in its forecast released here.

The national capital recorded a maximum temperature of 42.6 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 27.4 degrees.

In neighbouring Punjab and Haryana, the maximum temperatures stayed above 40 degrees Celsius in most parts.

Haryana's Hisar at 44.5 degrees was the hottest place in both states, MeT department report said.

Union Territory Chandigarh recorded its high at 41.2 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal.

Kota in Rajasthan recorded a maximum of 45.8 degree Celsius, while Vanasthali town in Tonk district received very light rain of 0.1 mm, Met department said.

Heat wave was sweeping Kutch, Saurashtra and other parts of Gujarat, with daytime temperatures soaring to 43 to 45 degrees Celsius, prompting the state government to direct hospitals to be prepared for tackling emergency situation.

The lower hills of Himachal Pradesh sizzled as the mercury rose by few notches in most parts of the state. Una was hottest in the region with a high of 42.2 degrees.

The MeT office has predicted rains or thundershowers at few places in the state tomorrow.

Intense heat wave conditions also persisted in western Odisha with Sundargarh recording the day's highest temperature of 45 degree Celsius, up from 43 degrees yesterday. The coastal parts of the state, however, received slight respite from the harsh weather.

In capital city of Bhubaneswar, the maximum temperature was 39.4 degrees Celsius while Cuttack recorded 37.5 degrees.

Good rainfall was recorded at several places in Tamil Nadu, including Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Tirunelveli, Erode, Thoothukudi and Madurai districts, the weather office said.

The office also forecast "heavy to very heavy rain" at one or two places in the southern state and Puduchery on May 17.

A low pressure area over the Indian Ocean has become well-marked and was likely to cross the Tamil Nadu coast between Pamban and Nagapattinam on Tuesday after intensifying as a deep depression, bringing in heavy rains in parts of the state, the IMD said.