The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has attributed the unusually high temperature reading of 52.9 degrees Celsius recorded at Mungeshpur in northwest Delhi to a malfunctioning sensor in an automatic weather station (AWS).

A team of experts dispatched by the IMD investigated the AWS after it reported the extreme temperature on May 29. They found that the sensor at Mungeshpur was consistently recording temperatures about three degrees Celsius higher than standard instruments.

The IMD clarified that the discrepancy was due to the malfunctioning sensor and assured that all AWS devices used for weather observations would undergo thorough examination to prevent such errors in the future.

This incident underscores the importance of accurate weather data collection, especially during extreme weather conditions, to provide reliable forecasts and alerts to the public and various sectors reliant on meteorological information.