M A I N   N E W S

17 more succumb to heat wave
TNS and PTI

Chandigarh, June 23
Providing the much-needed relief from the current spell of heat wave, maximum temperature today dropped at many places due to south easterly winds, but unrelenting heat which prevailed in the region till yesterday took its toll to 35.

The maximum temperature dropped by up to five degrees at some places since yesterday. Chandigarh recorded a high 38°C while Ambala was also much cooler in comparison with a high of 38.7°C. Karnal recorded a high of 37°C.

Amritsar, however, continued to be hot recording a high of 44.4°C, four degrees above normal. Ludhiana was cooler by three degrees at 39.2°C while the high at Patiala settled at 39.4°C.

Light to moderate rain was reported from Ambala, Yamunanagar and Narnaul in Haryana while Shimla, Mandi, Sundernagar, Pandoh, Rampur, Sunni, Solang Nullah and Dhundi in H.P. also had rain.

One person succumbed to heat in Amritsar, two persons died in Tarn Taran two in Bathinda and four in Abohar due to heat. An old man died due to heat in Patiala and another life was lost in Sangrur district.

Two persons, including a woman, died due to heat in Kapurthala district in Punjab.

In Haryana, one death each was reported from Faridabad, Sirsa and Bahadurgarh and Yamunanagar. So far three persons have succumbed to heat in Panipat.

Parts of Haryana and Punjab are reeling under severe power crisis and heavy cuts have been imposed to meet the increased demand. Minor power cuts were imposed in some parts of Chandigarh.

The Haryana Government was purchasing additional power of 400 mw from neighbouring states and the power supply in the state would improve by June 30, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said today.

ABOHAR: Four deaths due to sun stroke were reported in this subdivision. Manpreet Kaur (5), resident of Diwankhera village was rushed to the Civil Hospital yesterday due to continuous vomiting and dysentery problem. She breathed her last late evening. Avtar Singh (40) of Chandigarh Mohalla on Kandhwala Road, Kashmir Singh (60), resident of Panniwala village and Ramesh Kumar (54) of Indira Nagri collapsed while walking on the road, sources said.

BATHINDA: Two persons, who were admitted to the Civil Hospital after they fell unconscious due to heat in the last couple of days, died here today.

Meanwhile, two persons fell unconscious at the Grain Market here today. Sahara volunteers dropped them at their homes after providing primary medical aid.

BILASPUR (YAMUNANAGAR): A 72-year-old mahant of a temple here suffered a heat stroke last afternoon and died.