Heat wave sweeps North

Delhi records 44.5 deg Celsius New Delhi (PTI): There was no respite from the scorching sun as intense heat wave continued to sweep the entire North, where Churu in Rajasthan remained the hottest with a sizzling 48.2 degrees Celsius. Delhiites, who experienced season's hottest day on Sunday at 44.6 degrees Celsius, continued to sweat as the mercury settled at 44.5 degrees on Monday. Churu in Rajasthan continued to be the hottest in the region, where the maximum on Monday hit 48.2 degrees Celsius, up from on Sunday's 47 degrees and six notches above normal. The mercury maintained an upward trend in the state and Sriganganagar and Kota districts recorded maximums of 46.5 and 46.1 degrees.A Uttar Pradesh also remained under the grip of sizzling heat, where Banda recorded a maximum of 47.4 degrees Celsius. Punjab and Haryana too witnessed searing heat, where the Union territory of Chandigarh recorded the hottest day with a maximum of 42.9 degrees, five above normal. Temperatures across the two neighbouring states hovered around the 45 degree-mark and Hisar in Haryana was the hottest place with a maximum of 46 degrees. Met officials say no relief from the heat is likely and the condition will prevail across the entire North in the next few days.