New Delhi, May 24 (PTI) The mercury surged to 49 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan’s Phalodi — the highest temperature recorded in the country this year — as a sweltering heat wave stewed northwest India and some parts of the central region on Friday.

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.

The extreme heat will continue in parts of Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, west Uttar Pradesh and west Madhya Pradesh until May 28.

This means thousands of voters may face scorching temperatures when they step out to exercise their franchise in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday.