Heat wave continued to grip the country and the maximum temperature in several areas remained above 40 degree Celcius.

It was the hottest morning in the national capital on Thursday with the minimum temperature recorded at 23.7 degrees Celsius, the highest this year at five notches above the season's average.

The maximum temperature is likely to hover around 38 degrees Celsius, an India Meteorological Department official.

"Sky would remain partially cloudy with no chance for the rainfall. Due to the clouds, there would be a slight rise in the minimum temperature," the official said.
  

The humidity was 58 per cent.

On the other hand, Bhira village in Raigadh district in Maharashtra records 46.5 degree Celcius temperature. Akola, also in Maharashtra, recorded 44.1 degree Celsius.

The Met Department has issuued warning of heat wave in parts of North Maharashtra for 48 hours.

Varanasi, Allahabad, Hamirpur and Agra in Uttar Pradesh crossed 40 degree Celsius.

Narnaul in Haryana sizzled at 42 degrees Celsius, nine degrees above normal, while Ludhiana in Punjab recorded 36.7 degrees Celsius, seven degrees above normal.

Barmer in Rajasthan recorded a high of 43.4 degrees Celsius.