Jaipur, April 20 : The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a severe heatwave alert for eight districts of Rajasthan, warning that temperatures could soar beyond 45 degrees Celsius in the coming days. The alert, issued by the Meteorological Centre in Jaipur, will remain in effect till April 23. According to the IMD, temperatures are expected to rise by 2-5 degrees Celsius across the state during this period, intensifying heatwave conditions.
For Monday, heatwave conditions have been forecast in Khairthal-Tijara, Kotputli-Behror, Churu, Alwar, Bharatpur, Deeg, Dholpur, and Jhunjhunu. On Tuesday, the heatwave is expected to expand further, impacting additional districts including Karauli, Sikar, Bikaner, Hanumangarh, Jaisalmer, Phalodi, and Sri Ganganagar. The heatwave has already begun tightening its grip. On Sunday, several districts, including Alwar, Bharatpur, Deeg, Dholpur, Jhunjhunu, Khairthal-Tijara, and Kotputli-Behror, recorded heatwave conditions. Daytime temperatures crossed 41 degrees Celsius in at least nine cities, with Kota recording the highest at 42.1 degrees. Meteorologists now warn that by the end of April this year, several parts of Rajasthan could again breach the 45 degrees Celsius mark. The IMD has indicated that rainfall activity over the plains remains minimal. A weak western disturbance is currently passing over North India, but it is unlikely to bring any significant relief. As a result, heatwave conditions are expected to persist across North, Central, and parts of East India.