Chandigarh, June 15 -- Residents sweated through another sultry day as the mercury soared to a blistering 42.2degC on Saturday, while power cuts continued to add to the discomfort.

After dipping to 39.6degC on Friday - the first sub-40degC reading since June 7 - the maximum temperature jumped nearly three degrees to settle one degree above normal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also issued an orange alert for a heatwave at isolated places on Saturday.

There was, however, some respite at night. The minimum temperature, which had been steadily rising through the week, finally dropped from 32.7degC to 28.6degC - still two degrees above normal.

More relief is on the way, as the IMD has forecast chances of thunderstorms and rain ...