Heat wave claims one victim in Punjab

Chandigarh, Apr 27 (UNI) One person died in Punjab even as heatwave swept the northwestern parts of the country which also faced large scale power cuts.

Mercury hovered three to seven degrees Celsius above normal at several places in Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

A beggar died of heat stroke in Amritsar following steep rise in the temperature to 43 degrees Celsius, seven degrees above normal.

His body was found at New Golden Avenue area under Rambagh Police Station.

Amritsar was the hottest place in Punjab, followed by Patiala recording 42.9 degrees, five degrees above normal, and Ludhiana 42.8 degress, six degrees above normal.

There were reports of long power cuts of 18 hours to 20 hours at different intervals in some rural segments in Bathinda, Sangrur, Ropar and Hoshiarpur districts.

A report from Ropar said the rural areas under Kharar, Morinda and Chamkaur Sahib tehsils faced power cuts from 15 to 20 hours, while the urban areas also faced the cuts up to seven hours.

In Haryana, Hisar was the hottest place in the state with the mercury touching 44 degrees celsius. Power and water shortage has also been recorded in the town.

Karnal with 42.4 degrees, five degrees above normnal, was the second hottest place in the state. Ambala recorded 41.4 degrees celsius.

Chandigarh recorded 40.6 degrees, five degrees above normal.

In Himachal Pradesh, Bhuntar in Kullu district was at 34.7 degrees and Shimla 27.2 degrees.

The weather office has predicted light rain or thundershowers at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh while the weather will be mainly sunny in Haryana and Punjab during the next 24 hours.

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