Heatwave claims lives of two people in Punjab

Chandigarh, May 1 (UNI) Two people died due to heat stroke today as heatwave conditions persisted in parts of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

The deaths occurred at the Ludhiana Railway Station in Punjab. The bodies of the deceased, one of them identified as that of a beggar, were recovered from the railway station.

With these deaths, the toll in the current spell of heatwave rose to five in Punjab.

Intense heatwave swept Amritsar which recorded 42.8 degrees C, six degrees above normal, but the maximum stayed one degree below normal at Patiala which showed 37.8 degrees Celsius. Ludhiana registered 38.4 degrees C.

Scorching heatwave prevailed in some areas of Haryana with Hissar recording 43.8 degrees C. The mercury, however, settled at 37.5 degrees, one degree below normal, at Karnal.

Himachal Pradesh experienced rain at isolated places in Kangra, Kullu and Lahaul Spiti districts which kept the temperatures low in these areas, a report from Shimla said.

However, the mercury stayed four degrees above normal at state capital Shimla recording 26.0 degrees C. Bhuntar in Kullu district recorded 32.3 degrees, three degrees above normal, while Sundernagar in Mandi district registered 34.9 degrees C. Kalpa recorded 23.2 degrees C.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas got respite from hot weather conditions today as the temperature dropped to 35.8 degrees from 37.2 degrees C recorded yesterday.

An upper air cyclonic circulation lay over Central Pakistan and adjoining Punjab and north Rajasthan and extended upto 2.1 km above sea level, according to the weather Office here.

The heatwave conditions prevailing in some areas of the region are likely to abate in the next two days, it added.

The Met office predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers at a few places in Himachal Pradesh and duststorm or thuderstorm with light to moderate rain at few places in Haryana and Punjab during the next 24 hours.

Thundersquall with speed exceeding 45 km per hour is likely to occur at isolated places in the region during the period.

UNI