The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted light to moderate rainfall in Delhi and surrounding areas in the next few hours. The showers are expected to provide relief from the sweltering heat in the national capital region
“Light to moderate intensity rain and winds with speeds of 20-30 Km/h would occur over and adjoining areas of a few places of North Delhi, North-East Delhi, North-West Delhi, West Delhi, Central-Delhi, NCR ( Loni Dehat, Hindon AF Station, Bahadurgarh, Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, Chhapraula) Sonipat, Rohtak, Kharkhoda (Haryana) Bagpat, Khekra, Modinagar, Pilakhua (U.P.) during next 2 hours,” the IMD said in a post on X.
The weather agency on Wednesday said that the monsoon is expected to arrive in Delhi-NCR around June 30.
The weather department has issued a red alert for Western Uttar Pradesh for the next two days.
IMD scientist Dr Naresh Kumar said: “We had issued a red alert for Punjab, Haryana, Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar on Tuesday, but on Wednesday conditions have improved. There has been rainfall activity in Bihar. For Punjab, Haryana and Delhi-NCR, we have issued an orange alert but for West Uttar Pradesh we have issued a red alert for the next 2 days. In Delhi-NCR, the temperature is expected to be around 40 degrees Celcius. Monsoon is expected to hit Delhi-NCR around June 30.”
On Wednesday, five deaths due to suspected heatstroke were reported at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi, with at least 12 people, primarily daily wage laborers, in critical condition.
According to Dr Ajay Shukla, Medical Superintendent of RML Hospital, 11 people were admitted to the hospital on Tuesday with heat stroke, the highest reported in a single day this season. He said that at least 45 individuals have been admitted with heat-related ailments since the heatwave began about a month ago.
“A total of 22 patients have been admitted to the hospital and five have lost their lives due to suspected heatstroke. 12 patients are on ventilators and in critical condition. The majority of patients are labourers who work in extreme conditions,” Shukla said, adding that the main reason for the deaths was a delay in reaching the hospital.
(With ANI input)