Heat wave sweeps Hry, Pb; Hisar hottest at 46.8 deg C

The ongoing heat wave sweeping Haryana and Punjab for the past few days intensified today with most places recording the season's hottest day so far.
Hisar in Haryana sizzled at 46.8 degrees Celsius, five degrees more then normal, a MeT Department official said, adding maximum temperatures further rose since yesterday across the region.
Most places in Haryana were in the grip of severe heat. Karnal recorded a high of 43.8 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal, while Ambala sweltered at 43.7 degrees Celsius, up three degrees.
In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a maximum temperature of 45 degrees Celsius, five notches more than normal. Ludhiana braved a hot day at 44.6 degrees Celsius, up five degrees, while in Patiala the maximum temperature was 44.4 degrees Celsius, five degrees above normal.

Chandigarh too recorded the hottest day of the season so far at 43.1 degrees Celsius, four notches more than normal. Unscheduled power cuts have added to the woes of the people in Chandigarh and some parts of the two states.
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Meanwhile, Haryana Education minister Ram Bilas Sharma said in view of the prevailing heat wave, all government schools in the state would remain closed from May 23 to June 25.
The Minister urged the private schools to take concrete steps in this regard, according to an official release here.