New Delhi, May 21 -- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'severe' heatwave alert from Northwest India, including Delhi, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana, over the next few days.

These states have already been battling with extreme heat since this week, with temperatures hovering around 45 degrees Celsius in the national capital on Wednesday.

According to the IMD, a heatwave is observed when the maximum temperature crosses 40 degrees Celsius and remains 4.5 to 6.4 degrees above normal.

In its latest bulletin, the IMD has predicted a severe heatwave over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh on Thursday; the conditions are likely to continue till 26 May.

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