Four die as Gujarat sizzles at 47 degrees Celsius

Ahmedabad: At least four people died due to severe heat wave conditions across Gujarat on Wednesday as the maximum temperature hovered around 47 degrees Celcius.

According to reports, two people died in Rajkot and one each in Ahmedabad and Banaskantha.

The port city of Kandla was the hottest in the state with temperature rising to 48.4 degree celcius followed by Surendranagar in Saurashtra region with 47.8 degrees Celcius, the weather department said.

While state capital Gandhinagar recorded a temperature of 47 degrees Celsius, Ahmedabad recorded a high of 46.9 degree Celsius.

The maximum temperature in Amreli in Saurashtra reached at 46.6 degree Celsius and Rajkot, where two people died, recorded a high of 45.7 degrees Celsius.

Gujarat witnessed over 11,400 heat wave cases between May 1 and May 16. Ahmedabad recorded 561 malaria cases, 133 cases of jaundice, 156 typhoid and six cholera cases.

Officials said over 600 people fell unconscious due to severe heat and more than 500 complained of fluctuating blood pressure during this period.

"We do not see any respite in temperatures across Gujarat," Jayant Sarkar, Met Department chief, Ahmedabad division, said.

The Met Department has already issued heat wave alert in the state till May 19.

"North Gujarat and Kutch region are expected to witness severe heat wave in the coming two days, with temperatures rising to about 47 degrees Celsius," he said.