19 die of heatstroke in Punjab, Haryana

Chandigarh, June 11 (UNI) As many as 19 people died of heatstroke in Punjab and Haryana since last night even as temperatures fell at many places in the region today.

While five people died in Punjab, 14 succumbed to intense heat in Haryana as scorching heatwave continued to sweep north-west India.

Fourteen people died due to heatstroke in PGIMS, Rohtak, since last night, a report from Rohtak quoting Hospital Public Relations Officer Dr N K Magu said. While nine of them died today, five breathed their last last night. They were among a large number of people admitted to hospital with symptoms of heatstroke.

Hospital authorities have taken measures to cope up with patients who have developed symptoms of heatstroke by putting additional nurses and doctors on duty. They have requisitioned ice slabs for the patients.

A 75-year-old unidentified person died in local Rajindra Hospital at Patiala after he suffered heatstroke at Rajpura. He was admitted to the hospital yesterday in an unconscious state.

In another incident, the heatwave claimed two lives in Hoshiarpur city. The deceased were identified as a painter Inderjit (30). He suddenly collapsed on the road last evening and was admitted in Civil Hospital where he died today. Another person, identifed as Such Singh (60) also collapsed on the road and died due to heat wave in Civil Hospital.

In Ludhiana, one person, identified as Darshan Lal, fell down on the Gill Raod due to intense heatwave. He was rushed to a hospital but died on the way.

In another incident, the body of an unidentifed labourer was recovered at the Ludhiana Railway Station wearhouse. Railway Police said he had died of heatwave.

With these deaths the death toll due to the heatwave during this summer rose to 15 in Punjab so far.

Hot surface winds blew across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh during the day even as temperatures hovered below normal at many places in the region. The heatwave, is likely to abate in the the next two days, according to the Weather Office here.

People groaned under heatwave conditions in Hisar where the temperature settled at 45.8 degrees Celsius. The heatwave compelled the people to remain indoors. The town had last Saturday recorded the highest temperature of 47.9 degrees.

Elsewhere in Haryana, scorching heatwave lashed many areas, including Ambala, Karnal, Rohtak and Faridabad. Ambala recorded 38.8 degrees, one degree below normal while Karnal registered 37.0 degrees, three degrees down.

In Punjab, a severe heatwave condition prevailed in Amritsar which recorded 45.8 degrees, five degrees above normal. Ludhiana showed 40.8 and Patiala 40.6 degrees.

People in Chandigarh and its adjoining areas also groaned under heatwave conditions although the mercury dropped to 38.4 degrees, two degrees below normal. Dusty winds swept across the city during the day.

Heatwave conditions also prevailed in some parts of Himachal Pradesh, with Una recording 41.4 degrees, making it the hottest place in the state. Bhuntar in Kullu district recorded 35.2 and Sundernagar in Mandi district showed the mercory at 37.4 degrees.

The capital town of Shimla recorded the maximum at 28.5 degrees which was five degrees above normal.

The Met office has predicted rain or thundershowers at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and duststorm or thundrstorm at isolated places in Haryana and Punjab where day temperatures are likely to fall during the next 24 hours.

UNI