New Delhi: Temperatures soared to a searing 50 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan’s Phalodi Saturday, as a brutal heatwave swept through large parts of India, testing the endurance of millions, including those who stepped out to vote in the sixth phase of the ongoing general elections.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), 50 degrees Celsius is the highest temperature recorded in the country since June 1, 2019, when Churu, also in Rajasthan, logged a scorching 50.8 degrees Celsius.