India, May 21 -- The heat index or "feel like" temperature hit 50.2 degrees Celsius in Delhi on Wednesday, driven by persistently high levels of scorching heat and humidity.

This parameter measures how hot it feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature. It is calculated using a formula that takes both ambient air temperature and relative humidity into account.

According to the Meteorological Office, Delhi's maximum temperature reached 40.7 degrees Celsius, 0.5 degrees above normal, while humidity ranged between 64 and 34 per cent during the day. The highest minimum temperature was also registered at the season's highest at 30.2 degrees Celsius, 3.5 degrees above normal.

A study by the Council on Energy, ...