Three die as heat wave conditions prevail in N India

New Delhi, June 10 (UNI) Three people died of heat stroke in Punjab today, taking the toll in the heat wave to 18, as searing hot conditions prevailed in north India with day temperatures appreciably above normal even as parts of east and south India experienced heavy rains.

An unidentified man died due to heat stroke while walking at Phagwara in Kapurthala district of Punjab this afternoon.

In another incident, a labourer who was working at the thermal plant at Bhatinda died due to intense heat. He was identified as Dina Mandal. In yet another incident, a 50-year old unidentified woman died of heat stroke near the bus stand in Bhatinda town.

Hot surface winds blew across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh during the day, adding to the woes of the people already facing frequent power-cuts and water scarcity.

Blistering heat wave lashed Hissar with the mercury touching 45.9 degrees celsius, four degrees above normal, there, making it the hottest place in Haryana. The heat wave forced the people to remain indoors. The town had recorded the highest temperature of 47 degrees celsius last month during this summer so far.

Intense heat wave conditions prevailed in Punjab with Amritsar turning out to be hottest place in the state, recording 44.0 degrees, three degrees above normal. Ludhiana also showed three degrees above normal and Patiala two degrees up, respectively recording 43.8 degrees and 43.0 degrees celisus.

The mercury also rose in Himachal Pradesh with the capital town of Shimla recording the maximum at 28.5 degrees, five degrees above normal. Sundernagar in Mandi district recorded a high of 37.6 degrees and Kalpa in Kinnaur district registered 24.1 degrees celsius.

The national capital experienced a hot day as the mercury shot up to 43.4 Degree Celsius, three degrees above normal.

A mainly clear sky and bright sunlight led to intense hot conditions, forcing most people to remain indoors in the comfort of their houses or airconditioned offices.

The mercury in the capital has been witnessing a rising trend since Monday, after three days of pleasant weather over the last weekend.

Weathermen say the scorching hot conditions are likely to prevail in the coming days.

The weather office has forecast a mainly clear sky with dust or haze during the next 24 hours. They have also forecast a maximum temperature of 43 Degree Celsius tomorrow.

As per reports, day temperatures were above normal in some parts Jammu and Kashmir and Chattisgarh and were above normal in Uttaranchal and East Madhya Pradesh.

Heavy rains have occurred at most places in Asom, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and at many places in coastal and North interior Karnataka.

Very light rains have occurred at isolated places in Orissa, Bihar, Marathwada and Rayalseema.

Rain or thundershowers have occurred at many places in West Bengal and Sikkim and at few places in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and at isolated places in Aruachal Pradesh, Konkan and Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, South interior Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep.

According to reports from Kolkata, with the onset of early monsoon, weathermen have predicted moderate rainfall or thunder showers in Ganjetic West Bengal.

UNI TEAM MA AT KN1923