New Delhi : The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday issued severe heatwave warnings across various states in the Northern part including Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.

This came after maximum temperatures soared beyond 45 degrees Celsius in these regions on May 22 while a few districts in Rajasthan witnessed temperature crossing the mark of 48 degree Celsius.

The mercury on Friday surged to 49 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan’s Phalodi — the highest temperature recorded in the country this year — as the sweltering heat wave stewed northwest India and some parts of the central region. Official data showed that at least 23 places in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh recorded maximum temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius or above on Friday.

According to the weather office, heat wave to severe heat wave conditions are likely to persist over many parts of Rajasthan during May 24-28, in some/many parts of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh during May 24-28, West Uttar Pradesh during May 26-28, in isolated pockets of West Madhya Pradesh during May 24-26 and Gujarat Region on May 24.