Gruelling heat wave sweeps Punjab, Haryana; Hissar records 47.9

Chandigarh, June 9 (UNI) Gruelling heat wave swept Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh Union Territory today with the mercury soaring in the region, touching 47.9 degrees celsius at Hissar.

The mercury stayed five degrees to eight degrees celsius above normal, making the people reel under severe heat wave caused due to the blowing of north-westerly hot and strong winds, according to the Weather Office here.

Hot winds blew across the region during the day, lambasting the people already facing frequent power-cuts and water scaracity.

Hissar with 47.9 degrees celsius, seven degrees above normal, and Sirsa and Amritsar with 47.8 degrees Celsius, eight degrees above normal, each reeled under exceptionally high temperatures, which made them the hottest places in Haryana and Punjab .

The current spell of severe heat wave conditions are likely to continue for the next two days.

Elsewhere in Haryana, the temperatures also rose at Ambala and Karnal, respectively recording 44.6 and 45.0 degrees celsius, five degrees celsius above normal.

In Punjab, a severe heat wave conditions also prevailed at Patiala and Ludhiana where the mercury increased to 45.7 and 46.6 degrees celsius, six degrees above normal, respectively.

People in Chandigarh and its adjoining areas also groaned under intensified heat wave conditions with the mercury rising to 45.0 degrees from 43.6 degrees recorded yesterday. Hot winds swept across the city during the day.

Heat wave conditions also prevailed in some parts of Himachal Pradesh with Una recording 44.2, Sunderdnagar 42.1 and Bhuntar 38.6 degrees celsius. The capital town of Shimla recorded the maximum of 31.3, seven degrees celsius above normal.

The weather office has predicted mainly Sunny days in the region with hot and strong winds blowing in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours.

UNI