Temperatures passed 50 degrees Celsius in northern India as an unrelenting heatwave triggered warnings of water shortages and heatstroke.
Photo: AFP An Indian truck driver takes a bath using a water tanker as he tries to cool himself on a hot summer afternoon in Allahabad. Temperatures have pushed towards 50 degrees Celsius across much of India.
The thermometer hit 50.6 degrees Celsius in the Rajasthan desert city of Churu on Saturday, the weather department said.
All of Rajasthan suffered in severe heat with several cities hitting maximum temperatures above 47 Celsius.
In May 2016, Phalodi in Rajasthan recorded India's highest-ever temperature of 51 Celsius.
The Indian Meteorological Department said severe heat could stay for up to a week across Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh states.
Several deaths from heatstroke have already been recorded.
A red alert severe heat warning has been issued in the capital New Delhi as temperatures passed 46 Celsius, and residents were advised not to go out during the hottest hours of the day.
Even in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh, where many wealthy Indians go to escape the summer heat, temperatures reached 44.9 Celsius in Una.
Several major cities, led by Chennai, have reported fears of water shortages as lakes and rivers start to dry up.
In the western state of Maharashtra, farmers struggled to find water for thirsty animals and crops.
The Hindustan Times newspaper said many residents had stopped washing and cleaning clothes due to the water shortage.
More than 40 percent of India faces drought this year, experts from Gandhinagar city's Indian Institute of Technology, warned last month.
The annual monsoon - which normally brings much-needed rain to South Asia - is running a week behind schedule and is only expected to hit India's southern tip on June 6, the weather department said.
Private forecaster Skymet has said there will be less rain than average this year.
