New Delhi: The heat wave continued unabated
in West Bengal, where mercury crossed the 45-degree mark at a
few places, and in many parts of northern region even as Jammu
and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh received rains and snowfall
on Monday.
At least three people reportedly died due to sunstroke in
West Bengal, where Bankura and Burdwan recorded a maximum
temperature of 45.2 C and 45 C respectively.
Several areas experienced blackouts up to 11 hours and
shortage of water as school timings in Purulia, where the high
settled at 44.8 degrees, were changed and classes are now held
from 6:00 am to 10.30 am.
In the national capital, hot conditions prevailed as the
city recorded a maximum of 41.6 degrees, same as yesterday
when it recorded the season`s highest temperature, while the
minimum settled at 24.5 C, a slight increase than the previous
day (24.4 C).
Several places in Punjab and Haryana also experienced
severe heat. However, a dust storm blew through some places,
giving temporary relief to residents. Hisar was hottest in the
region at 42.2 degrees, six notches above normal, followed by
Karnal 40.6 C, Patiala 37.8, Chandigarh 37.5 C and Ludhiana
37.5 degree Celsius.
In the desert state of Rajasthan, Churu was the hottest
place at 43 degree Celsius followed by Sriganganagar 42.6 C.
Kota, Bikaner, Barmer and Jaisalmer recorded a high of 42.3 C,
41.8 C, 41.4 C and 40.7 C respectively.
Uttarakhand too endured a hot day with capital Dehradun
recording a maximum temperature of 38.5 degree Celsius.
Meanwhile, fresh snowfall in upper reaches and heavy rain
in plains brought down the mercury considerably in Jammu and
Kashmir, providing much relief to people from hot conditions.
Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only surface
link between Kashmir valley and the rest of the country, was
disrupted for nearly three hours following the rainfall.
Winter capital Jammu, where the mercury touched the
season`s high of 39.5 degrees yesterday, recorded 11.2 MM
rainfall, resulting in appreciable drop in the day temperature
which settled at near normal of 32.4 degree Celsius.
In the Kashmir valley, upper reaches received a fresh
spell of snowfall and plains lashed by rains which brought
down the temperature in Srinagar to 18.5 degrees against
yesterday`s 24.9 C. The city recorded nearly 20 MM rainfall.
Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir recorded the
highest rainfall of 26.0 MM while recording a maximum
temperature of 15.5 C and a minimum of eight degrees.
The hilly state of Himachal Pradesh experienced a
pleasant climate with the famous Rohtang pass receiving light
snowfall as Shimla and other low-lying areas recorded showers.
The state capital recorded a maximum day temperature of
25.3 degree Celsius, a drop of 2.5 degrees from that of
yesterday.
PTI
