New Delhi, June 1 (Reporter) Delhi did not experience the temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius on May 29 as reported earlier, the India Metereological Department (IMD) clarified on Saturday after its probe found that the sensor at Mungheshpur weather monitoring station had "malfunctioned.". In a statement, the IMD said the temperature sensor of the Automatic Weather Station (AWS) in Mungeshpur was found to report a maximum temperature of a maximum temperature of about 3°C higher than that recorded by the standard instrument. This temperature also exceeded the earlier all-time highest maximum temperature of 48.4 °C at Palam on May 26, 1998. The clarification puts to rest the sensationalism that had accompanied the reporting of 52.9 degrees Celsius on May 29, as it was thought to be exceptionally high even though Delhi and other parts of North India have been experiencing the sizzling heat over the last fortnight. Mungeshpur is located in north-west Delhi, close to the border with Haryana. The IMD statement makes it clear that the "abnormal" figure of 52.9 degrees celsius triggered suspicion of something being wrong, and "a thorough examination and review of the maximum temperature recorded by AWS at Mungeshpur, Delhi, on May 29" was carried out by "an expert committee" of the weather monitoring department. “The examination and review included the evaluation of sensors not only at Mungeshpur but also at some other AWSs in Delhi, especially where we get higher temperatures like Najafgarh and New Delhi," the statement said. The maximum temperature in Delhi, NCR, is being monitored through five surface observatories and AWSes, the IMD noted. "The observations of the maximum temperature on May 29, 2024, were between 45.2 and 49.1 degrees celsius, except for the AWS installed at Mungeshpur, which reported a maximum temperature of 52.9 degrees celsius," the statement said. It also pointed out that the maximum temperature indicated a slight fall at many places in Delhi on that day. "The expert team of IMD checked the authenticity of the temperature reported at Mungeshpur by comparing it with a standard instrument on May 29th and 30th, 2024, at the site. It was found that there is a positive bias in reporting temperature. The bias varies during the day, being maximum around the time of occurrence of maximum temperature," the statement said. It added that the temperature recorded by AWS (Mungeshpur) was higher by 3.1 degrees celsius during the time of occurrence (1515 hours IST) of maximum temperature," the statement said. "The temperature sensor of AWS Mungeshpur is found to report a maximum temperature of a maximum temperature of about 3 degrees Celsius higher than the maximum reported by the standard instrument. The comparison of maximum temperature reported by AWS stations at other locations with departmental manual surface observatories in Delhi showed no significant difference," the IMD explained. "Thus, the maximum temperature reported by AWS Mungeshpur is not correct due to malfunctioning of the sensor," the weather department said, adding that necessary remedial measures are being taken to avoid repetition of such errors in AWS. Union Minister for Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju, while attaching the IMD statement, said the IMD team "quickly investigated and found a 3 degree Celsius sensor error" and that "corrective measures are now in place."...////...