Swathes of north India reel from severe heatwave conditions, Delhi's Najafgarh hottest in country

In Haryana, Sirsa recorded a maximum temperature of 47.2 degrees Celsius, followed by Nuh at 46.8 degrees, Faridabad at 46.2 degrees, Jhajjar at 45.9 degrees, and Bhiwani and Narnaul at 45.7 degrees each.

Large parts of north India, including Haryana and Delhi, reeled from severe heatwave conditions with the maximum temperature touching 47.4 degrees Celsius in Najafgarh in the National Capital - the highest in the country on May 20.

Temperatures remained above 45 degrees Celsius in large parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh, affecting daily life as many chose to remain indoors in the afternoon.

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The crippling heat strained low-income households, which often have poor access to water and cooling, and tested the endurance of outdoor workers toiling in the searing sun, forcing them to take frequent breaks.

"Today (Monday), heatwave to severe heatwave conditions were observed in many places over Haryana and Delhi. Heatwave conditions were observed in some pockets over Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and isolated pockets of Punjab, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Temperatures in several parts of Delhi again breached the 47 degrees Celsius mark, with the weather office issuing a red alert for the next five days due to heatwave to severe heatwave conditions in the National Capital.

Several State governments have asked schools to declare holidays for a few days due but have provided the option of online classes.