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Heat wave toll rises to 1,045

NEW DELHI JUNE 2. Several areas in the northern and southern parts of the country today reeled under an intense heat wave that has so far claimed 1,045 lives.

In the worst-hit Andhra Pradesh alone, 1,020 people have died in the continuing heat wave, officials said.

The drought-hit district of Nalgonda in Telangana region accounted for the highest number of deaths — 192 — followed by East Godavari 152, Guntur 138, Warangal 130 and Prakasam 98.

Three more deaths — a destitute and a 55-year-old man in Bihar and a taxi driver in West Bengal — were reported today.

Temperatures soared to the season's highest in many cities in the north, including New Delhi, which recorded 44.2 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal. Kanpur registered 45 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal.

In Karnataka, which is facing an acute drinking water shortage, Muslims joined Hindus in offering prayers to propitiate the rain god. Over 2,000 Muslims converged at the Idgah Maidan in Bangalore reciting verses from the Koran.

Prayers for rain were held in various temples throughout West Bengal where power cuts and water scarcity have made life miserable.

The Meteorological office, however, said there would be no respite from the heat in the next few days.

In the north, Ludhiana in Punjab recorded the maximum 44.3 degrees Celsius followed by Amritsar and Ambala with 44.1 degrees. Chandigarh registered a high of 43.8 degrees and Patiala 43.2 degrees.

Jammu also had a hot day at 43 degrees Celsius. In Himachal Pradesh, Sundernagar recorded a high of 40.9 degrees. — PTI

Related Stories:
Heat wave toll climbs in A.P.

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