Searing heatwave kills 23 across UP, south-west monsoon advances

New Delhi, June 9 (UNI) The searing heatwave showed no signs of relenting in Uttar Pradesh, claiming 23 lives due to heatstroke in the last 24 hours in the state even as the south-west monsoon advanced further.

According to reports, five people each died in Varanasi, Mahoba and Noida. Besides, two dying in Hardoi, while one each succumbing to a heatwave in Lucknow, Unnao, Banda, Jaunpur and Jhansi districts.

Besides, three people died and 100 others were taken ill since yesterday due to the spread of contagious diseases, brought about by the heatwave and drinking water shortage in Mainpuri district.

In Aligarh, diarrhoea claimed three lives and 60 others were reportedly infected with the killer disease.

A report from Allahabad said the heatwave has killed over 50 peacocks, in the neighbouring Kaushambi district.

The problems of the people in UP have been compounded by heavy load shedding and water crises.

Life of people in Amethi and Kanpur has become tough due to massive power cuts for 18 and 8 hours respectively.

Handpumps and tubewells have gone dry, following ebbing ground water level, which is now posing a threat to standing cash crops like sugarcane.

The mercury has soared two to four degrees Celsius above normal in Varanasi, Lucknow, Banda, Mahoba, Jaunpur, Allahabad and Kanpur divisions.

Agra was the hottest at 45.5 degrees, while Lucknow sweltered at 44 degrees. The weather mainly remained dry at other places.

Meanwhile, the weatherman has forecast rain/thundershowers in the next 24 hours, which might give respite to the masses.

A gruelling heat wave swept Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh today with the mercury menacingly soaring in the region, touching 47.9 degrees at Hisar.

The barometer stayed five degrees to eight degrees above normal, making the people groan under the severe heatwave caused due to the blowing of north-westerly hot and strong winds, according to the Weather Office here.

Hisar with 47.9 degrees and Sirsa and Amritsar with 47.8 degrees each reeled under exceptionally high temperatures as the blazing sun roared in its rage. The mercury hovered above normal by seven degrees at Hisar and eight degrees at Amritsar, which made them the hottest places in Haryana and Punjab respectively.

The current spell of severe heatwave conditions is likely to continue for the next two days.

Heatwave conditions also prevailed in some parts of Himachal Pradesh with Una recording 44.2 degrees, Sunderdnagar 42.1 degrees and Bhuntar 38.6 degrees.

The capital town of Shimla recorded the maximum at 31.3 degrees, seven degrees above normal.

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

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