Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh on Friday continued to reel under a heat wave, with Bhopal recording the highest maximum temperature in the city for March in 21 years.
Khajuraho was hottest in the state at 43 degrees Celsius.
Mercury soared to 40.8 degrees Celsius in the state capital Bhopal. In 1996, the city had recorded the highest maximum temperature for March at 40.7 degrees Celsius.
"Most parts of the state are in the grip of heat wave," said GD Mishra, meteorologist of India Meteorological Department's Bhopal centre.
Hot and dry winds from Rajasthan were the reason for scorching heat, he said.
Khajuraho was followed by Naugaon (42.8), Damoh (42.5), Hoshangabad (42.2), Shivpuri and Seoni (both 42), Gwalior and Jabalpur (both 41.1) and Indore (39.8).
In most parts of the state, the maximum temperature was in the 40-43 degrees range, Mishra said, adding that this weather will prevail for one or two more days, and dust storms are likely at some places.
"Intense heat wave condition" would prevail in Chattarpur, Damoh, Shivpuri, Guna, Hoshangabad, Khandwa and Khargone, while heat wave would continue in Rewa, Betul, Rajgarh, Harda, Shahdol, Gwalior, Indore, Ujjain, Bhopal, Sagar, Balaghat and Jabalpur districts, IMD forecast said.
