Temperatures soared to a searing 50 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan’s Phalodi on Sunday, 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.

Phalodi hit India’s all-time high temperature of 51 degrees Celsius on May 19, 2016.

The extreme heat affected not only the northern plains and central regions of the country but also the hills of Himachal Pradesh, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.