Dog days are here again: TN reeling under hottest period

Chennai, May 3 (UNI) The city and several other parts of Tamil Nadu entered the hottest period of the summer season today with the onset of 'kathri', marking the arrival of dog days.

In the next 25 days till May 28, also called the ''Agni Nakshatram'' period, the state would reel under scorching heat.

However, with the mercury crossing the 40 deg celsius mark two days ago, people have already started feeling the heat.

The temperatures touched 41.8 deg celsius (107.2 deg ft) in Nungambakkam and 42 deg celsius (107.6 deg ft) at suburban Meenambakkam today, the weather office here said.

Heat wave conditions were also likely to prevail in the north coastal districts of the state in the next two days, it also warned.

As the mercury started soaring, people spent most of the day indoors. Power failures in some areas added to their misery.

The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has even deferred its women's wing state conference, scheduled to be held in Cuddalore on May 24 and 25, to June 12 and 13 due to the scorching heat.

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