Intense heatwave sweeping through northern India with temperatures hitting record 49.2 degree Celsius in Delhi.

An intense heatwave is sweeping through northern India with temperatures hitting a record 49.2 degree Celsius in parts of the capital, Delhi.

Officials in many parts of the country have asked people to take precautions as temperatures are set to remain high, warning that the heat could cause health concerns for the vulnerable, including infants, the elderly and people with chronic diseases.

Report says that this is the fifth heatwave in the capital since March and that temperatures are likely to fall by 2 to 4 degree Celsius in some areas but there may not be any respite from intense heat.

The Indian weather department said the states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Bihar have particularly witnessed increasing temperatures in the past few days.

Kevin Madu