Several parts of north and central India continue to batter in stifling heat with no relief likely till June 19. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued orange and red alerts for the next five days as the maximum temperatures hovered in the range of 44-46 degrees Celsius in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. This temperature range was also seen in parts of Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and Chandigarh. Along with the day temperature, the night temperature is also increasing continuously. The minimum temperature in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh has broken the record of the last 127 years. In the last 24 hours, the minimum temperature in Prayagraj was recorded at 34.3 degrees Celsius. Earlier, in June 1898, the minimum temperature was recorded at 33.5 degrees Celsius. Lucknow Meteorological Center scientist Mohammad Danish said that a red alert for a severe heat wave has been issued in the state for the next three days.

In view of the scorching heat, the holidays have been extended till June 24 in schools for classes 1 to 8 run under the Basic Education department. Earlier, this holiday period was till June 15.

On the other hand, the Met Department predicted isolated extremely heavy rainfall in Meghalaya from till 19 of this month, in Assam between 17 and 19, while scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds was predicted in parts of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha during the next five days.