M A I N   N E W S

Heatwave persists, toll 1,425

New Delhi/Chandigarh, June 7
Increased humidity, dust haze and hot winds added to woes of the people reeling under an oppressive heatwave in most regions even as 46 more persons succumbed to soaring temperatures pushing the countrywide death toll to 1,425.

Thirty-six fresh deaths were reported in Andhra Pradesh, which turned into a furnace with killer heatwave claiming 1,317 lives in the past three weeks, and 10 in Haryana as showers drenched parts of the North-East.

West Godavari in Andhra accounted for 261 fatalities followed by East Godavari 199, Nalgonda 192 and Guntur 184, officials in Hyderabad said.

The weather office said with conditions becoming favourable, monsoon is likely to finally hit Kerala in a day or two. Mercury hovered around 43°C at many places in northern India as hot winds blew across the region make life miserable for denizens.

Dust blanket coupled with increased humidity further added to the woes of the people.

Mercury touched 43°C in Chandigarh while Hisar recorded 42.8°C. Amritsar and Ludhiana stayed hottest with the highs of plus 45 and 44.1°C, respectively, and Patiala 42.9°C.

However, Srinagar and Shimla had the maximum rising by five degrees above normal to 32.9°C and 29.5°C, respectively.

Ambala had the maximum rising by two degrees to 43.1°C, while Sundernagar 40.9°C, Bhuntar 38°C, and Solan 36.5°C, respectively. PTI, UNI