As Hyderabad sizzles, its wildlife chills

Hyderabad recorded the highest temperature in last 20 years of 45 degrees on Thursday.

Andhra Pradesh has been in the grip of heat wave for the last three days.

The city had recorded a temperature of 44 degrees on Monday, and 44.5 degrees on Tuesday.

Adding to the woes, Hyderabad residents have been bearing a two-hour power-cut everyday.

The city's roads and flyovers wore a deserted look with people preferring to remain indoors and those that dared to step out covered their heads and faces with cloth.

At the city's Nehru Zoological Park, most animals were in water throughout the day.

Photographs: Snaps India

According to the Hyderabad meteorological office, the heat wave is due to the northwest winds that is pushing the temperatures in the Telangana region.

S V Rao of the Hyderabad Meteorological Centre said the hot weather was mainly due to the dry winds generated in Rajasthan and blowing through Maharashtra.

Ramagundam and Paloncha regions in Khammam district recorded 49 degrees on Thursday, while several towns in Telangana recorded over 45 degrees.

Adilabad and Nizamabad were burning at 45.6 degrees, while Karimnagar, Warangal and other districts recorded over 44 degrees.

The Hyderabad office has said that the heat wave would continue for the next four to five days.

Meanwhile, heat wave conditions prevailed in the North India on Thursday with the mercury settling above 40 degree celsius at many places and Barmer in Rajasthan sizzling at a high of 46.4 degrees.

In New Delhi, residents experienced the season's hottest day with the mercury shooting up to 44.4 degrees, breaking a four-year record in the month of May.

The usually pleasant regions of Himachal Pradesh too recorded a maximum temperature reached 42 degrees in Una, a rise of 4.2 degrees as compared to Wednesday.

Despite partially overcast skies, capital Shimla experienced a high of 26.8 degrees. Nahan and Mandi experienced daytime temperatures of 36.8 and 36.4 degrees respectively.