Searing heat intensified across the country with the mercury maintaining its upward trend and heatwave sweeping across large parts, claiming over 65 lives in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha.
Forty-three people have so far died due to hot weather conditions in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, while in Odisha heatwave claimed 23 lives.
Temperature crossed the 45 degrees Celsius mark in many areas of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, while northern states reeled under dry and hot weather conditions.
In the national capital, the mercury shot up to 43.6 degrees Celsius, the highest of this season. According to MeT officials, today's maximum was four notches above normal. The minimum temperature settled at 27 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year.
Blistering heatwave in many areas of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has claimed 43 lives even as people continued to reel under torrid weather. According to the MeT Department, the mercury will continue its upward trend in the next few days.
Khammam, Nalgonda, Nizamabad and Karimnagar in Telangana, and Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh were worst hit. In Khammam, the mercury touched 47 degrees Celsius today, weather officials said, adding in other areas it hovered around 45 degrees Celsius.
"As per the information received till yesterday the toll in Telangana is 21," Revenue Secretary B R Meena told PTI. According to reports from Andhra Pradesh districts, 22 people have died due to the heatwave in the state so far.
Telangana Government has issued a list of 'Do's and Don'ts' for the people, asking them not to venture outside when day temperatures are high.
In Odisha, heatwave-like conditions prevailed in large parts forcing people to remain indoor and prompting the administration to take precautionary measures.
According to officials, as many as 23 died allegedly due to sun-stroke in the state, where Jharsuguda recorded the maximum temperature at 45.8 degrees Celsius.
In Punjab and Haryana, intense heatwave swept across the two states with mercury soaring sharply in many areas. Hisar in Haryana sizzled at 45.5 degrees, four notches above normal, while in Bhiwani, mercury settled at 44.8 degrees Celsius.
Chandigarh registered a high of 41.7 degrees. In Punjab, Amritsar's maximum settled at 43.2 degrees while Ludhiana and Patiala recorded their maximum at 42.7 degrees Celsius.
