No let up in heat in North; 7 killed in Assam due to rains

New Delhi: No respite was in the offing for North as well Western parts of the country as temperature soared across the regions after a brief spell of rains and thunderstorms. Interestingly, Varanasi and Vadodara-- the hotbed of political activity in the ongoing polls-- sizzled at 41 degree Celsius.

In the national capital, mercury settled at 38.6 degree Celsius as winds and light rains were witnessed in some parts in the evening. The minimum temperature settled two notches below the normal level at 23 deg C. While in Assam, seven members of a family were buried alive in a landslide after rains yesterday. The incident took place in south Assam`s Karimganj district last night, official sources said today. The plains of Uttar Pradesh continued to reel under scorching heat with Etawah recording the highest temperature at 43.4 deg C. Whereas Allahabad recorded a maximum 43.0 deg C followed by state capital Lucknow which witnessed 42.0 deg C. Punjab and Haryana also reeled under heat wave. Chandigarh had a high of 39 deg C, a degree above normal level, Met department said here today. In neighbouring state Haryana, Ambala and Bhiwani saw mercury settling at 39 deg C and 39.2 deg C. Day temperatures decreased by a few notches in parts of Rajasthan where Kota was the hottest place with a maximum of 41.4 deg C followed by Barmer at 40.5 deg C.