The heat wave continues in northern India with the mercury breaching the 40-degree celsius mark at many places. Ganganagar in Rajasthan experienced a high of 44.5 degrees.<br/> <br/>Elsewhere in the desert state, the daytime temperature in Churu was 44.3 degrees, while in Dholpur, Kota and Jaipur, it was 43.5, 42.5 and 41.5 degrees respectively. <br/><br/>According to the Met office, in Punjab and Haryana, Hisar was the hottest place in<br/>the two states at a high of 44.3 degrees, five notches above normal.<br/><br/>Patiala, had daytime temperatures of 42.1, degrees.<br/> <br/>In the national capital, the mercury stood at 41.8 degrees, four degrees above normal and 2.1 degrees higher as compared to yesterday.<br/> <br/>In Himachal Pradesh, temperatures rose marginally in the mid and lower hills by 2-3 degrees. Una was the hottest in the state at a maximum of 38.8 degrees while capital Shimla recorded a high of 27.3 degrees, an increase of 2.1 degrees as compared to yesterday.