Bihar in grip of severe heat wave; relief expected from May 24

Heat wave conditions worsened over Bihar with temperatures crossing 43 degree Celsius in several parts of the state today.
Temperature in the state capital soared to touch this season's previous record of 43.2 degrees Celsius.
People remained indoors in Patna, Chapra, Siwan, Muzaffarpur, Supaul, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Gaya, Jehanabad, Arwal, Nalanda, Bhojpur, Buxar and Rohtas districts as the heat wave turned severe from moderate.
Temperatures at most of these places are 5 to 7 degrees over the 25 year average temperature for this month.
"There will be no relief from severe heat wave in the next two to three days. The temperatures will hover around 43 degrees and may go beyond. This is because rainfall in Bihar has shown a negative tendency over last 10-15 years and the state is facing a tendency of dryness in weather," Meteorological Director Ashish Kumar Sen told PTI.

Sen, however added that people could expect relief from Saturday onwards as cloud gathering will start over Bihar, and will continue till the onset of Monsoon around June 11 to 13.
Streets wore a deserted look in the urban areas while farmers postponed ploughing their fields, looking for some respite from the soaring mercury.
"Though the heat wave is severe, it is still nowhere near 45.6 degree Celsius recorded in Patna on May 9, 2005 -- all time record for the state capital. For Bihar the highest temperature ever recorded was 47.1 degree at Gaya on May 14, 1970," Sen added.