India, May 24 -- The scorching summer heat has engulfed Delhi with no respite expected for the next one week. The mercury hovered around 44 degrees Celsius in most parts of the national capital amid continued heatwave that has gripped north India over the past several days.

Several states of northern, central and western India are currently locked in the grip of a punishing heatwave, forcing regional administrations to enact emergency countermeasures.

Ayanagar, Ridge, Lodhi Road, Palam and Safdarjung logged temperatures nearing 45 degrees Celsius on Sunday. The fresh spike in mercury comes after brief rain respite in the national capital on Saturday evening.

The weather department forecast had earlier predicted that the heatwave condit...