Record 52.9 degrees Celsius in Delhi's Mungeshpur 'could be due to error in sensor,' says IMD; examining data, sensors

New Delhi: Hours after Delhi's highest temperature touched 52.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday clarified that the mercury reading was not official yet and added that the senior IMD officials have been asked to verify the news report.

Issuing a statement after a weather office in Delhi reported Mungeshpur AWS (Automatic weather station) recorded the highest temperature at 52.3 degrees Celcius, Kiren Rijiju said, "It is not official yet. Temperature of 52.3 degrees Celcius in Delhi is very unlikely. Our senior officials in IMD have been asked to verify the news report. The official position will be stated soon."

Earlier today, Delhi's Mungeshpur logged a maximum of 52.9 degrees Celsius, the highest ever temperature recorded in the city.