India, Oct. 22 -- The mercury climbed to 37.4degC in Santacruz on Wednesday, making Mumbai's suburbs the hottest district in Maharashtra. The maximum temperature was 3.4degC above normal, while the Mumbai city region recorded 36.6degC, a departure of 3.1degC from normal.

The coastal belt along Konkan and Goa has been experiencing higher temperatures, said Dr Bikram Singh, head scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Mumbai.

Temperatures have risen again after easing over the past few days, Singh said, adding that some relief could be on the way. The drop in temperatures across north India is expected to gradually influence north Maharashtra and other parts of the state.

"This year, the pattern has been different from ear...