India continued to sweat it out as heat wave conditions persisted in northern, eastern, western and central parts of the country.

It is officially the hottest April in the last 50 years, after a blistering March witnessed an unprecedented rise in mercury.

Most states are reeling under a heat wave, and the average temperature has been nearly six-seven degrees above normal.

New Delhi, Amritsar in Punjab, Purulia in West Bengal, Khaujuraho in Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha in Maharashtra have been the worst hit by the early summer.

However, the meteorological department has assured that in spite of the parched heat across India, the monsoons will be normal. And with temperatures crossing the 40 Celsius mark, most of the country is praying for an early monsoon.

An unexpected spate of rains in Chandigarh recently brought some relief to the city that has been simmering under a heat wave. But the relentless heat continues to torment the rest of India