NEW DELHI — A city in western India has suffered through the country’s highest temperature in history — a scorching 51 degrees Celsius (123.8 degrees Fahrenheit).

The record was set Thursday in the city of Phalodi, in the western state of Rajasthan.

India’s meteorological department said the previous high was 50.6 C (123 F), reached in 1956 in the city of Alwar, also in Rajasthan.

Authorities have issued a severe heat wave alert for the next two days in the western states of Gujarat, Rajasthan and parts of the central state of Madhya Pradesh. That means the areas can expect temperatures of 47 C (116.6 F) or more.

The main summer months — April, May and June — are always excruciatingly hot across most parts of India before monsoon rains bring cooler temperatures.