A heat dome can have serious impacts on people, because the stagnant weather pattern that allows it to exist usually results in weak winds and an increase in humidity. Both factors make the heat feel worse – and become more dangerous – because the human body is not cooled as much by sweating.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has directed the rescue of the homeless from footpaths, and parks and sent them to shelter homes.

Blistering heat also continued to prevail in Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, which recorded a maximum temperature of 44 degrees Celsius, according to the centre's weather report.  

After 159 people allegedly died of sunstroke in the state, discussion around compensation over deaths owing to heatwave gains prominence.

Many people can relate to the sleepless nights during hot summer months and anecdotal experiences of irritation and aggression when thermally uncomfortable.

The weather office has reported that the entire desert state is currently experiencing severe heat, with temperatures ranging from two to eight degrees Celsius above the normal for this season. 

The decision comes as Delhi experiences a relentless rise in temperatures, culminating in a peak of 44.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday – the highest recorded this summer. 

The heat wave has also left the political leaders in a quandary as they are unable to move out during the daytime for campaigning across the state, which goes to polls on June 1 in the last phase of Lok Sabha elections.

On Friday, weather stations recorded alarming highs, with Najafgarh in west Delhi reaching a staggering 47.4 degrees Celsius, the hottest in the country so far this year.

The national capital is set to experience its first heatwave of the season this weekend. So far, the Capital has not recorded a heatwave day, as the maximum temperature has not been more than 4.5°C above normal.

India was followed by China and Russia, with each experiencing roughly 14 per cent and 8 per cent of these heatwave-linked excess deaths, respectively.

Similar heatwaves could occur once every 30 years and they have already become about 45 times more likely due to climate change, leading climate scientists said on Wednesday, citing historical weather data.