West Bengal reels under heat wave, 2 dead

At least two people have died in West Bengal today as the state reeled under heat wave with the mercury crossing 40 degrees in several areas.
Sriniketan in Birbhum district recorded 44.2 deg C, Bankura recorded 43.1 deg C, Asansol 42.8, Baharampur 42.2, Purulia 42, Burdwan 41 and Malda's maximum temperature stood at 40.1 degree C.
In Barrackpore, in the northern fringes of the city, an undertrial prisoner died in the court lock-up during the hearing of his bail plea.
"Jeetandra Tanti (35) was declared brought dead at the hospital. The reason of death may be due to heat. We don't know. The post-mortem report will say," Barrackpore Police Commissioner Niraj Kumar Singh said.

G C Debnath, director, IMD, Kolkata, told PTI that a heat wave condition was prevailing in the western districts of the state and there was no likelihood of any respite from it in the next few days.
"In central India also, there is a heatwave situation from where the hot winds are blowing in. In West Bengal there is no likelihood of any rain, which is aggravating the situation," he said.

Kolkata, which was not yet under heat wave condition, recorded 38.6 deg C at Dum Dum. The sweltering heat and high humidity levels inconvenienced people in the city and roads were deserted at mid-day.

A Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) employee died while working in office.
KMC Member, Mayor-in-Council (Health) Atin Ghosh said treasury department employee Moinuddin Ali had complained of uneasiness and chest pain during work and was later declared dead by a doctor.
In Bankura also, there were reports of a death due to heat wave, but officials said they have no such information.