Maharashtra heat wave hits Karnataka: 40 degree Celsius in 20 districts

BENGALURU: The summer scorcher just got hotter! The mercury singed 25 out of 30 districts of Karnataka with as many as 20 of them wilting as temperatures breached the 40 degree Celsius mark, with Kolda Hobli in Chincholi taluk of Kalaburagi district recording the highest temperature at 44.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.

More districts are likely to endure extreme temperatures over the next couple of days as an intense heat wave hit neighbouring Marathwada, central Maharashtra, Telangana and Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, according to an official of Karnataka state disaster management cell. The mercury level could shoot up further over the next couple of weeks with the average temperature likely to increase by 3-4 degrees Celsius through the rest of April.

The scenic districts of Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru, known for cool climes during summer, also registered a high of 40 degrees during the day.