As the rains continued to remain elusive, a severe heat wave scorched Delhi-NCR on Tuesday with the maximum temperature rising to 43 degrees Celsius, the highest this year so far.
This is the first heat wave in Delhi this summer season, according to the India Meteorological Department.
For the plains, a "heat wave" is declared when the maximum temperature is more than 40 degrees Celsius, and at least 4.5 notches above normal.
A "severe" heat wave is declared if departure from normal temperature is more than 6.5 degrees Celsius, according to the IMD.
The weather department said that monsoon has reached Barmer in west Rajasthan, one of its last outposts, two weeks before its normal schedule but is yet to arrive in the north Indian plains including Delhi.