Bhopal: The State capital faced intense heat wave on Friday and recorded highest temperature of 46.7 degree Celsius. With this temperature, Bhopal has broken record of 69 years, when a 46.5 degree temperature was recorded. It was in May 2010 when the mercury soared to 46 degrees Celsius. The temperature on Thursday was five degrees above the normal mark. The city had recorded day temperature of 45.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday and 45.6 on Thursday. Officials of meteorological department, Bhopal circle, attributed the rise in temperatures to blowing of hot dry winds in the absence of a system or moisture incursion.
Searing heat forced most of the residents to stay indoors and the scorcher did not let people venture out for better part of the day unlike other days when roads usually bustle with human activity and vehicular zip across. Roads wore a deserted look and people preferred to stay confined to comfort of their homes to avoid heat stroke. Impact of heat was witnessed till late in the evening. Winds remained unbearably hot even after the sunset.
The upward climb of mercury over the last couple of days triggered heat wave conditions, a tad early this time, unlike previous years when it was generally recorded in fourth week of May, the hottest month of the year.