Rain-related incidents kill nearly 20; wide spread rains hit India

New Delhi, June 15 (UNI) Seventeen more people lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, even as widespread rains lashed various parts of the country today, bringing the much-needed relief to the people reeling under acute heat wave conditions.

Five fishermen were killed after being struck by lightning in Surat district of Gujarat yesterday.

Lightning also killed five more people, including three in the Aurangabad district and two in Beed district of Maharashtra yesterday, taking lightning-related deaths to 76.

Pre-monsoon showers continued in the Madhya Pradesh capital and various parts of the state though hot weather conditions prevailed in different parts of the northern region today.

Seven people were killed in rain-linked incidents overnight while heat wave claimed three lives in Sheopur district of the northern region where the season's toll is 32.

Lighting claimed two lives at Hoshangabad, while the death figure was three in Chhindwara district and two people were swept away in a river in Neemuch district.

The first wave of flood affected several areas of northern Asom.

According to sources from the state revenue department, about nine villages in the Gohpur area were affected by the flood, while water level of the Brahamputra was rising and flowing above the danger level.

Moderate to heavy pre-monsoon rains lashed most parts of north-west India during the past 24 hours, leading to a sharp fall in the temperature.

The maximum temperature fell by 12 degrees in Punjab, four degrees to 11 degrees in Haryana and four degrees to eight degrees in Himachal Pradesh.

The temperature also decreased in Haryana. Hissar, which usually turns out to be the hottest place in the state, registered the maximum at 37.4 degrees, four degrees below normal, while Ambala recorded 30.5 degrees, eight degrees below normal, and Karnal showed 29.5 degrees which was 11 degrees down.

After a severe heat wave since the beginning of this month, the national capital was today cooled down by heavy burst of pre-monsoon showers, the first this season.

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