WB: 7 dead in Purulia, temperatures soaring

Kolkata, May 2: Summer temperatures throughout West Bengal have soared with many districts in the state recording maximum temperatures of above 40 degrees Celsius, while the toll in Purulia district reached seven so far.

Local Met sources said the maximum temperature recorded for the day at Purulia was 47.1 degrees Celsius. Seven people died of heat stroke so far in the district.

Meanwhile, sources at the Alipore Met department said the maximum temperature recorded in the state capital was 36.5 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal, while the minimum was 28.2 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal.

Latest satellite imagery and synoptic observation indicated that the very severe cyclonic storm Nargis over East Central Bay of Bengal continued to move eastwards.

''The system is likely to move in an East-Northeasterly direction and cross the Myanmar coast by this evening,'' the sources added.

The Met office forecast no rainfall over the state capital during the next 24 hours as the weather would remain mainly dry over the gangetic West Bengal.

However, rain or thunder showers were likely to occur at a few places in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar and at isolated areas over Malda and North and South Dinajpur districts.

UNI