Heat wave, lightning claim five people lives

Chandigarh, May 15 (UNI) Five people died due to heat stroke and lightning, as heat wave lashed most parts of north-west India today.

While four people died of heat stroke in Punjab, one person was killed due to lightning in Haryana.

An unidentified sadhu succumbed to heat wave in Ghee Mandi locality of Amritsar city today. His body was found lying by the roadside.

A migrant labourer, identified as Shahid, died of heat stroke while working in a paddy field at Achintkot village in Amritsar district.

In another incident in the district, a beggar died due to dehydration caused by excessive heat near the Verka Railway Station.

A 23-year old youth, identified as Jang Bahadur, died of heat stroke in Ferozepur town.

A thunderstorm, accompanied by lightining hit Fatehabad area of Haryana last evening, killing a rickshaw puller, Radhesham, on the spot. He was returning to his home during a strong thunderstorm when the lightning struck him.

With these deaths, the toll due to the heat wave and lightning rose to twelve with Punjab accounting for ten casualities and Haryana two deaths.

The maximum temperatures hovered above normal at Amritsar, Hissar, Shimla and Bhuntar as scorching heat wave persisted in these areas.

However, the mercury stayed below normal in certain areas, including Ludhiana, Patiala and Ambala.

In Punjab, people faced under intense hot weather conditions at Amritsar with the mercury rising to 41.0 degrees, three degrees above normal, from 40.0 degrees recorded yesterday.

However, the temperature hovered one degree below normal at Ludhiana and Patiala, respectively recording 40.0 degrees and 39.0 degrees celsius. The heat wave has delayed cotton sowing in the Malwa belt.

In Haryana, Hissar which has been reeling under severe heat wave experienced rain and hail stone that brought down the temperature in the town. Karnal recorded 37.4 degrees and Ambala 38.7 degrees, one degree below normal.

The temperature dropped in Himachal Pradesh but hovered above normal with capital town of Shimla showing 26.5 degrees, four degrees above normal, while Sundernagar in Mandi district reported 35.2 degrees and Bhuntar in Kullu district 34.0, five degrees above normal.

Hot weather conditions persisted in Chandigarh and its adjoining areas with the city recording 37.8 degrees.

The weather office has predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers at many places in Himachal Pradesh and duststorm or thunderstorm with light rain at few places in Haryana and Punjab during the next 24 hours.

UNI VKJ JMK AD VC2050