New Delhi:
Rising heat wave around India has started claiming lives with death toll in Orissa mounting to 15 on Sunday due to sunstroke.
The temperature remained above 42 degree Celsius in many places despite substantial fall in mercury level here and adjoining areas.
Residents of Bhubaneswar, which sizzled at 44 degree on Saturday, had some reasons to cheer as the maximum temperature settled at 39.9 degree celsius on Sunday, sources said.
Scorching heat waves also claimed lives of two people in Amritsar.
One of the deceased died immediately after he fell unconscious on the road near the main city bus stand on Saturday evening.
The severe heat wave prevailing in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh is likely to abate during the next two days as the region might be hit by dust storms or thunderstorms.
According the Met office, the day temperature is likely to fall during the next two days in view of dust and thunderstorms at many pockets of Punjab and Haryana.
However, the maximum temperature continued to remain above 40.
Capital simmeringSizzling summer sun on Sunday made Delhiites sweat more with the mercury peaking to the season's hottest of 43 degree Celsius.
The maximum temperature was four notches above normal, registering a jump of 0.4 degrees from Saturday, the Met Office said.
The minimum was 27 degree Celsius, half a degree down from Saturday but three degrees above normal.
This is the 14th consecutive day when the mercury settled at a maximum of over 40 degree Celsius, giving a tough time to citizens of the national capital.
The temperature crossed 40 degree Celsius for the first time this season on April 22 when it touched 40.2 degree Celsius.
The Weatherman has predicted a partly cloudy sky for tomorrow with the maximum temperature hovering around 41 degrees.
Hottest day in ShimlaShimla experienced the hottest day of the season on Sunday with mercury touching 28.7 degree celsius, much to the discomfort of residents and tourists.
The Day temperature in Shimla was recorded at 28.7 deg celsius in comparison to 28.1 deg c yesterday, met office sources said.
This is the highest temperature of the season in the capital of the hill state so far.
Night temperature also recorded high of 18.8 deg c in Shimla, they said.
Other places of the hill state also witnessed scorching sun.
The soaring mercury is bad news for residents' of Shimla whose woes are further aggravated by deepening water crisis in the state capital.
However, met office forecast rain or thundershowers at isolated places of the state tomorrow.