Rajasthan Heatwave Alert: Rising Temperatures

**Severe Heatwave Expected to Hit Rajasthan Starting Thursday: Meteorological Centre** A heatwave is set to grip several regions of Rajasthan beginning Thursday, according to the Meteorological Centre in Jaipur. Intense surface winds loaded with dust, reaching speeds of 30 to 40 km/h, are anticipated to sweep through the border areas of Jodhpur and Bikaner divisions in the upcoming days. The mercury is forecasted to rise by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius across the region, as per the Met office. Particularly in the districts of Bikaner and Sriganganagar, residents will face soaring maximum temperatures ranging between 44 to 45 degrees Celsius from Thursday through Saturday. This surge is expected to usher in a fresh round of heatwaves in certain locales. Meanwhile, eastern Rajasthan is likely to remain predominantly dry from Thursday onwards, with temperatures projected to climb by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius. Over the past 24 hours, the highest recorded maximum temperature in the state stood at 43 degrees Celsius in Bikaner. The meteorological department has also issued a forecast for thunderstorms, with wind speeds of 40 to 50 km/h and light to moderate rainfall. This will potentially affect some areas in the Bikaner, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Udaipur, and Kota divisions on Wednesday.