Hot and sultry weather continues in North; monsoon revives in Mumbai

New Delhi, June 23 (UNI) Hot and sultry weather continued to haunt the north-west region with the temperature touching 40 degrees Celcius and the monsoon revived in Mumbai after a lull of 21 days even as the death toll in the lightning that struck Marathwada region last week reached 64 with 12 more deaths reported today.

Extreme sultry conditions were experienced in the capital, even as most of the country faces the monsoon's ire, with the mercury continuing its upwards movement since Wednesday, rose to nearly 40 degree Celsius today.

The weathermen said the coming days could see a further rise in maximum temperature although light showers have been forecast by the weather office during the next 24 hours. It has also forecast a partly cloudy sky with possibility of light rains and thundershowers, accompanied by squall, in the capital during the next 24 hours.

People groaned under intense heat at Amritsar with the mercury soaring to 41.5 degrees Celsius, turning it the hottest place in Punjab.

Elsewhere in the north-west region, the temperature slightly fell at Ludhiana, Patiala, Karnal and Chandigarh, providing respite to people from sweltering heat.

The temperature hovered one degree above normal at Amritsar.

Ludhiana showed 39.8 degrees and Patiala 39.2 degrees Celsius.

The temperature also declined in Himachal Pradesh with Sundernagar in Mandi district recording 35.9 degrees and the capital town of Shimla 24.3 degrees. Kalpa in Kinnaur district registered 24.8 degrees.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana also recorded a fall in the temperature following rain. The city, which reported 16 mm rain, recorded 38.8 degrees Celsius.

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