New Delhi:
From West Bengal in the east to Rajasthan in the northwest, heat wave swept several parts of the country with mercury hovering over 40 degrees in many areas.
In the national Capital, the maximum temperature rose from yesterday's 40.1 degrees to 40.5 deg C, which is five degree above the normal.
The temperature rose to 41 deg C in Kolkata and its neighbourhood while the districts of Purulia, West Midnapore and Bankura remained in the grip of a heat wave.
Jharsuguda in western Orissa recorded highest temperature of 45 deg C even even as the mercury level slightly dropped in coastal districts, including state capital Bhubaneswar. Many parts of the state reeled under the heat wave condition, which has so far claimed 28 lives in the state.
The desert state of Rajasthan also witnessed severe heat wave conditions with Churu remaining the hottest place with a maximum of over 43.3 deg C followed by Sriganganagar at 43.2 degrees.
Hill states also recorded relatively warm temperature. In Dehra Dun, the state capital of Uttarakhand, the mercury shot up to new high of 38.3 degrees, which is 4 degree above the normal?
With scorching sun, Shimla, known as the queen of hills, remained warm with mercury settling at 27 degrees.
Sundernagar in Himachal Pradesh recorded a maximum of 36.8 deg C while it was 35, 32.8 and 40.6 degrees in Bhuntar, Dharamsala and Una respectively.
In Punjab and Haryana, the maximum rose by up to eight notches above normal with Hisar sizzling at 42.7 degrees.
Chandigarh recorded the maximum temperature at 39 deg C, which was six degrees above the normal.