Many places in the country experienced scorching heat with the mercury crossing the 40 degrees mark while the weatherman warned of heat wave in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and some other areas.
Hot conditions prevailed in the national capital with the mercury soaring above the 40 degrees Celsius mark in some parts of the city.
Safdarjung observatory, whose recording is considered the official figure for Delhi, recorded maximum temperature of 41.2 degrees Celsius, four notches above the season's average.
Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge and Ayanagar registered maximum temperatures of 43, 40.6, 41.5 and 42.6 degrees Celsius, respectively.
According to the MeT office, the city is likely to reel under heatwave-like conditions this week.
Heatwave prevailed at most places in Rajasthan while slight rise in maximum temperatures were recorded in some areas, with Sriganganagar being the hottest for the second consecutive day recording a high of 46.8 degrees Celsius.
Churu registered maximum temperature of 46 degrees Celsius while Bikaner recorded a high of 45 degrees Celsius, followed by Jaisalmer 44.5 degrees Celsius, Barmer 44.3 degrees Celsius, Kota 44.2 degrees Celsius, Pilani 43.7 degrees Celsius, Jaipur 43.2 degrees Celsius, Dabok in Jodhopur 43 degrees Celsius and Ajmer 42.1 degrees Celsius.
The MeT department has predicted heat wave at many places and warm night conditions at isolated places in western region of Rajasthan.
The India Meteorological Department has issued a heat wave alert for Central Maharashtra and Marathwada region.
With the day temperatures already rising, the mercury is likely to soar further at some places in Central Maharashtra and Marathwada since north India is witnessing severe heat wave like conditions, an IMD official said.
As per the IMD, some places Madhya Pradesh would also face heatwave-like conditions.
Scorching heat persisted in many parts of Odisha, mainly in its western region, while the mercury dropped marginally in the coastal belt following rains due to the impact of Cyclone Maarutha.
The mercury breached the 40 degree mark in at least 10 places in the state and Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district became the hottest place in the state at 43.5 degrees Celsius.
Balangir recorded maximum temperature of 43 degrees Celsius, followed by 42.8 degrees Celsius in Malkangiri, 42.6 degrees Celsius in Titlagarh town and 41 degrees Celsius in Sundargarh.
Following rains and thundershower last night, the maximum temperature in Bhubaneswar dropped to 34.3 degrees Celsius, while it was 34 degrees Celsius in neighbouring Cuttack.
The weatherman predicted rain or thundershower coupled with gusty wind over coastal Odisha and adjoining interior areas of Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenkanal, Kandhamal, Rayagada and Kalahandi till tomorrow.
Two sunstroke deaths have so far been reported in the state this summer - one from Bargarh and another from Angul district.
Heatwave conditions prevailed in some parts of Telangana with the mercury hovering between 42 degrees Celsius to 44 degrees Celsius.
Mahabubnagar recorded the highest maximum temperature of 44.5 degrees Celsius in the state. Adilabad remained the second highest at 44 degrees Celsius, followed by Medak 43.3 degrees Celsius, Hyderabad 43 degrees Celsius and Nalgonda 42.6 degrees Celsius.
In Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow recorded a high of 37.7 degrees Celsius while Jhansi remained the hottest place in the state, with the mercury reaching up to 43.8 degrees Celsius.
The MeT office has said heatwave-like condition is likely over isolated places in southern parts of the state.
Blistering heat wave swept most parts of Haryana and Punjab, with Narnaul sizzling at 45 degrees Celsius.
Hisar recorded a high of 44 degrees Celsius, six notches above normal while Ambala and Karnal recorded similar above- normal maximum temperatures at 39.2 degrees Celsius and 39.3 degrees Celsius respectively.
Intense heat prevailed in Amritsar, where the mercury soared up to 42.7 degrees Celsius. Ludhiana also had a hot day at 40.9 degrees Celsius while Patiala's maximum temperature settled at 40.6 degrees Celsius.
The MeT official said heatwave-like conditions are expected to abate for a few days from April 21 as a western disturbance is approaching the northern region.
The weather in Bihar remained dry with Gaya being the hottest place in the state where the mercury rose to 38.5 degrees Celsius.
Patna recorded a high of 36 degrees Celsius, while Bhagalpur registered maximum temperature of 36.7 degrees Celsius.
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