Heat wave grips several states; Maharashtra's Bhira hottest at 46.5 degrees

In UP, maximum temperature crossed 40 degree Celsius in Varanasi, Allahabad, Hamirpur and Agra

Village Bhira in Raigadh district of Maharashtra recorded an unusually high 46.5 degrees Celsius as several parts of the country reeled under sweltering heat on Wednesday.

Akola, also in Maharashtra, recorded 44.1 degree Celsius, Barmer in Rajasthan recorded a high of 43.4 degrees Celsius while Narnaul in Haryana sizzled at 42 degrees Celsius, nine degrees above normal.

Ludhiana in Punjab recorded seven degrees above normal 36.7 degrees.

In Uttar Pradesh, the maximum temperature crossed 40 degree Celsius in Varanasi, Allahabad, Hamirpur and Agra.

It was a hot day in Delhi with the mercury settling six notches above normal at 38.2 degrees Celsius. The temperature in Dehradun, as