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Heat wave, lightning take five lives

CHANDIGARH: Five people died due to heat stroke and lightning, as heat wave lashed most parts of north-west India on Monday.

While four people died of heat stroke in Punjab, one person was killed due to lightning in Haryana. An unidentified sadhu succumbed in intense heat in Ghee Mandi locality of Amritsar city today. His body was found lying by the roadside.

A migrant labourer, identified as Shahid, died of heat stroke while working in a paddy field at Achintkot village in Amritsar district. In another incident in the district, a beggar died due to dehydration caused by excessive heat near the Verka Railway Station. A 23-year old youth, identified as Jang Bahadur, died of heat stroke in Ferozepur town.

A thunderstorm, accompanied by lightining hit Fatehabad area of Haryana last evening, killing a rickshaw puller, Radhesham, on the spot. He was returning to his home during a strong thunderstorm when the lightning struck him.

With these deaths, the toll due to the heat wave and lightning rose to twelve with Punjab accounting for ten and Haryana two deaths.The maximum temperatures hovered above normal at Amritsar, Hissar, Shimla and Bhuntar as scorching heat wave persisted in these areas.

However, the mercury stayed below normal in certain areas, including Ludhiana, Patiala and Ambala.

In Punjab, people faced under intense hot weather conditions at Amritsar with the mercury rising to 41.0 degrees, three degrees above normal, from 40.0 degrees recorded yesterday.

However, the temperature hovered one degree below normal at Ludhiana and Patiala, respectively recording 40.0 degrees and 39.0 degrees celsius. The heat wave has delayed cotton sowing in the Malwa belt of the State. - UNI.

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