Heat wave kills nearly 100 people

New Delhi, Jun 12 (UNI) A dip in the temperatures today in north and Central India brought relief from a searing heat wave which has so far claimed nearly 100 lives.

The heatwave conditions across the country have killed 19 people in Madhya Pradesh, 33 in Rajasthan, at least 13 in Uttar Pradesh, nine in Delhi, five in Punjab and 14 in Haryana so far.

Two more people succumbed to sunstroke in Madhya Pradesh in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll in the state to 19.

In the past three days, Shivpuri recorded highest death toll of eight, followed by seven in Sheopur, three in Morena and one in Bhind district.

At least 14 people have died of sunstroke in Alwar district, two in Bharatpur and Jaipur districts in the past 24 hours, taking the total heat toll to 33 in Rajasthan.

Three people died each in Agra and Kaushambi district, while two died at Mahoba. Lucknow, Unnao, Ferozabad, Pratapgarh and Etah districts accounted for one casualty each.

Northwest India heaved a sign of relief as the temperatures markedly dipped at most place in the region following rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and some parts of Punjab overnight.

Except Hissar and Amritsar where the temperatures stayed above normal, the mercury dropped three degrees to seven degrees below normal in Haryana and Punjab.

The heat wave sweeping the national capital during the past week abated today with the Easterly winds bringing down the mercury to 37.2 degrees Celsius.

The Easterlies resulted in drop in the minimum temperature to 30.3 degrees C, from 31.5 degrees C yesterday.

The maximum also dropped to 37.2 degrees C, from 41.1 degrees C yesterday. The maximum of 37.2 was three degrees below normal.

Though humidity levels remained at a high of 49 per cent.

The temperature in the Uttar Pradesh capital showed a remarkable dip giving the much needed respite to people from the heat wave.

After a small spell of cool and pleasant weather, the people in Bihar again had to face the sweltering heat as mercury rose by about four degrees Celsius in the state capital today.

Met office here said the maximum temperature for the day was recorded at 34 degrees Celsius, a four degrees jumped from yesterday.

The relative humidity, which was up to 62 per cent made the day sultry.

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