Vidarbha reels under severe heat wave, Wardha tops list at 47.1 degrees C; IMD issues red alert

A severe heat wave has gripped the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, with temperatures breaching 46 degrees Celsius in several cities and a red alert issued for the next seven days.

The Vidarbha region of Maharashtra is currently reeling under severe heat wave conditions with Wardha recording maximum temperature of 47.1 degrees Celsius on Wednesday and three other cities witnessing the mercury levels breaching the 46 degrees Celsius mark.

The region is unlikely to get any respite from the sweltering heat in next seven days as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert of severe heat wave conditions in several parts of Vidarbha.

The Vidarbha region comprises 11 districts - Akola, Amravati, Bhandara, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha, Washim and Yavatmal.

Wardha recorded a maximum temperature of 47.1 degrees Celsius, Nagpur 46.6, Amravati 46.4, Chandrapur 46.2, Gadchiroli 45.6, Akola 45.2, Yavatmal 45.2, Bhandara 44.2 and Gondia 44.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.

The weather department issued the red alert for Akola, Amravati, Wardha districts on May 21, and orange alert for Nagpur, Chandrapur and Yavatmal for that day.

It also issued an orange alert in Amravati, Akola, Wardha, Yavatmal on May 22, 23 and 24.

A red alert signifies extreme heat conditions for the day, severe heat wave persisting for two days, while an orange alert signifies severe heat alert for the day and severe heat wave conditions persisting for two days.

Scientist at IMD's Nagpur regional centre, Dr Praveen Kumar, told PTI that the present conditions are likely to prevail for next five to seven days.

''The existence of anticyclonic circulation and prevalence of dry and hot wind causing the region to report above-normal maximum temperature,'' he said.