UP perspires in scorching heat

Lucknow, Jun 6 (UNI) With no respite from the roasting heat, Lucknowites braved yet another baking hot day as the mercury hovered around 42.8 degrees Celsius today.

The minimum temperature, however, remained at 28 degrees Celsius.

For the past couple of weeks, Lucknowites are reeling under blistering heat and according to the meterological office no respite is expected in the coming days.

The vendors of 'nimbu paani', 'aam pana' and other soft drinks are puffing their pockets as a huge rush of customers was seen at all such shops in the state capital.

The sale of umbrellas, the only hope for pedestrians, has also risen.

Meanwhile, the toll due to sun stroke mounted to 40, following the death of two people, including a beggar in Hamirpur and Banda districts in the last 24 hrs.

The mercury showed a considerable rise in Lucknow, Bareilly, Moradabad, Varanasi, Jhansi, Agra, Allahabad and Gorakhpur divisions.

'Taj City' Agra and Banda were the hottest in the state at 43 degrees C, followed by 42.8 degrees C in the 'City of Nawabs.' A report from Allahabad and Kanpur said people are facing hardships due to the simmering heat and hot weather conditions since last few weeks.

UNI