India Records Its Highest Temperature Ever Recorded

Bangkok Desk, May 20 (EFE).- As parts of north and northwest India swelter under an ongoing heat wave Friday, the city of Phalodi in the state of Rajasthan recorded the country's highest ever temperature of 51 degrees Celsius, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) announced.

"Phalodi in Rajasthan, India recorded 51.0 Deg C (123.8 F) Temperature on 19 May, 2016, which is the highest ever recorded temperature in India," the IMD tweeted.

The Department also recorded a temperature on Thursday of 50.2 degrees Celsius (122.4 F) at Churu, northeast of Phalodi.

Six Indian states, including and to the east of Rajasthan, are under red alert heatwave warnings on the IMD website, which described the heat in parts of those states as "severe."

The heat in the capital New Delhi has lessened today, with a recording of 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 F) on the IMD site, down from yesterday's 45 degrees (113 F).

People in New Delhi have reportedly been trying to stay indoors unless it is necessary to go outside, as well as cooling down by drinking lots of liquids, eating watery fruits and splashing around in pools.

Rising electricity consumption as a result of using air conditioners worsens the risk of blackouts if the heat wave continues.

The IMD has warned that the heat might persist until Saturday.