Blistering heat bakes North

The blistering heat wave that has gripped North India claimed two lives as the region continued to bake with mercury hovering over 45 degrees Celsius today in most areas of the region, including the national capital.
A rag picker and a beggar were found dead due to suspected heat stroke in Jaipur, which has been sizzling with extremely high temperature for the last one week, officials said.
Mercury stayed several notches above normal in almost all parts of the northern region affecting normal life.
There was no respite from intense heat wave for Delhiites as mercury settled at 45.2 degree Celsius, which was six notches above normal, a day after it had touched 45.5 -- the hottest June temperature in the last ten years.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 28.1 degree Celsius, which was normal for this part of the season.
The heat wave conditions are expected to remain for at least two more days. The Met office said mercury is expected to remain in the 43-45 degree bracket till June 12.

Heat wave conditions also prevailed over western parts of Uttar Pradesh even as eastern part of the state saw light to moderate rains accompanied by thundershowers.
Banda was hottest in the state with maximum temperature soaring to 48.2 degrees Celsius while Allahabad recorded a high of 47.5 degrees and Lucknow 44.9 degrees.

In Rajasthan, however, mercury dropped by one to three degree C at some places due to dust storm.
Ganganagar recorded a maximum temperature of 45.7, followed by Bikaner 45.5, Jaipur 45.4, and Kota 45.3 degree C. Elsewhere the maximum temperature ranged from 42 to 44.5 degrees.
Punjab and Haryana also reeled under intense heat wave conditions with mercury soaring by several notches above normal in most parts of the two states.
Hisar in Haryana and Ludhiana in Punjab recorded a high of 46 deg C each.
Among other places in Haryana, Ambala had a high of 44.6 deg C, up by six notches above normal while Karnal recorded maximum at 45 deg C, up by seven degrees above normal.

In Punjab, Amritsar experienced heat wave at 45.6 deg C, up by six notches above normal while in Patiala the mercury settled at 45.1 deg C.
Chandigarh recorded maximum at 44.3 deg C, up by five degrees above normal.