Temperatures soared in north, central and peninsular regions of the country today with Delhi witnessing the season's hottest day and Telangana and Odisha together recording 36 more sunstroke deaths even as over a thousand houses were damaged in thunderstorm in Nagaland.
The plains in the north simmered under the blazing sun with Hisar in Haryana being the hottest in the country at 45.5 degrees Celsius. It was followed closely by Banda in Uttar Pradesh at 45.2 degrees.
Heatwave conditions, however, subsided in Bihar, which had a cloudy day, and Gangetic West Bengal, which is likely to be hit by thunderstorms in the next few days.
The national capital sizzled at 44 degrees Celsius, the hottest day of the season so far. The minimum was 23.8 degrees Celsius.
In Telangana, the sunstroke toll since the beginning of this summer climbed to 178 from the last count of 143 reported on Friday as heatwave conditions prevailed in many parts of Khammam and Karimnagar districts of the state.
"These deaths were confirmed by a three-member committee. Nalgonda district tops the chart with 53 deaths, followed by Mahbubnagar with 33," an official in the disaster management's control room said.
The maximum temperature of 45 degree Celsius was recorded at Ramagundam. Rain occurred at isolated places over the state and Kondurg in Mahabubnagar district received 3cm of rainfall, IMD said.
Odisha reported another heatwave-related death, taking the toll to 14. Mercury soared in western parts of the state with coal town of Talcher recording the maximum of 44.6 degrees. Jharsuguda was hot at 44.3, followed by Bhawani Patna and Bolangir at 44.2 and Angul at 44.1 degrees.
"The number of unconfirmed sunstroke deaths has increased to 140, of which 14 have been confirmed," the Special Relief Commissioner of the state said.
In the east, thunderstorm coupled with heavy rain damaged over 1000 houses, injured two persons and snapped electricity supply in five districts in Nagaland, the State Disaster Management Authority said.
Heavy rain and thunderstorm were reported in Chuchuyimlang areas of Mokokchung district besides, Longleng, Phek, Wokha and Mon districts.
Meanwhile, landslide triggered by heavy rains cut off road communication to Hayuliang in remote Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh but there was no report of any loss of life.
Heavy rains have lashed Anjaw for the past 26 days. Official sources said Hayuliang has remained cut off since yesterday. Landslides at several places destroyed three government quarters and the cement concrete steps at Chingraliang village.
Heatwave conditions in Gangetic West Bengal subsided after several days of above 40 deg C temperature bringing much-needed relief to people, with the weatherman forecasting thunder squalls in the region during the next few days.
Widespread rainfall lashed parts of Rajasthan since
yesterday where very heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places in Kota Division and heavy rainfall at isolated places in Jaipur and Bikaner Divisions.
From yesterday till morning, Shahabad in Baran district recorded maximum rainfall of 15 cm followed by Malsisar (Jhunjhunu) at 12 cm. Chaksu (Jaipur), Choth ka Barware (Sawai Madhopur) recorded 11 cm and many other places received below 10 cm of rain.
Day temperature also dipped in parts of the state with Bikaner being 40.6 degree Celsius, the hottest in the state followed by Jaisalmer at 40 degrees Celsius.
The Met Department has predicted heavy rainfall at isolated places in the state during next 24 hours.
In Odisha, Bolangir recorded highest rainfall of 17 cm followed by Loisingha at 11 cm and Ambadola at 8cm.
Bhubaneswar registered 29.9 degrees Celsius and received 33.5 mm rainfall. Chandwali, Titlagarh and Hirakud recorded 34, 32.5 and 32 degrees Celsius respectively.
Heavy rainfall in most parts of north Odisha while many parts of south Odisha has been forecast, the weatherman said.
As the South-West Monsoon arrived in most parts of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, both states and the union territory witnessing widespread rains in several parts.
"Monsoon is likely to remain very active in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh during next 36 hours with moderate to heavy rainfall at most places in all districts of Punjab and Haryana.
"Heavy to very heavy rainfall with intensity more than 12 cm is also likely in some parts of Punjab and Haryana during next 36 hours," the MeT office said.
Widespread rains lashed major parts of Punjab and Haryana, bringing relief to people from sultry weather conditions.
Because of rains, the maximum temperatures dropped sharply in both the states, the weather department said.
Till 5:30 PM today, Punjab's Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala witnessed rainfall of 2 mm, 23 mm and 12 mm, respectively. Till 8:30 AM, Ludhiana, Patiala and Amritsar received rainfall of 73.2 mm, 51.8 and 17 mm, respectively.
The maximum temperatures in Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala were 30.4, 27 and 26.3 degrees Celsius, respectively, up to 10 notches below normal.
In Haryana, Hisar was the wettest at 64 mm with the maximum temperature dropping by 13 degrees below normal and settling at 25.8 degrees Celsius.
Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, saw rainfall of 3.5 mm till 5:30 PM, while its maximum was 26.8 degrees Celsius, nine notches below normal.
Because of rains, several low lying areas in both the states were inundated with water.
In west Bengal, Gangetic region received moderate rains today, whiled reduced precipitation was recorded in its sub-Himalayan.
People of Bihar may get respite from humid conditions prevailing in the state since past one week or so as the MeT department predicted moderate to heavy rainfall in the state from tomorrow.
