New Delhi: This year, India has found itself in the throes of two diametrically opposite weather extremes. As Northern India forlornly looks at an extended winter, with a series of western disturbances in February and early March; the southern region, was in the grip of inclement heat wave conditions on March 6, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

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Previously, the IMD had forecast two days of heat wave conditions in Tamil Nadu, the coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema. It further said, "Heat wave need not be considered till maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40 degree Celsius for plains, and at least 30 degree Celsius for hilly regions, for two or more days continuously.” Heat waves, after lightning strikes and earthquakes, are the third biggest cause of deaths in the country. The Indian government, however, doesn't classify it as a 'natural calamity' and it was only in 2016, that the IMD came up with advisories for heat waves for the first time.

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On March 6, the Dharmapuri Station in Tamil Nadu recorded a maximum temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius -- the highest temperature ever recorded in March in the area -- exceeding the previous record 40 degree Celsius in 1996.  Similarly, Vellore recorded highest temperature in the state at 40.6 degree Celsius, while Thiruthani saw temperatures soaring up to 40.5 degree Celsius. Other stations like Tiruchirapalli, Salem, Madurai and Karur Paramathi also recorded maximum temperatures rise close to the 40 degree mark.