Kashmir, parts of country reel under heat wave; 5 die in Maha in rain-related incidents

Heat wave conditions have been declared across Kashmir as many parts of the country reeled under scorching heat today, even as five deaths have been reported in separate rain-related incidents in Nashik.

Weather agencies have predicted monsoon to hit Maharashtra and Goa in the next two days.

In Kashmir, where heat wave was declared, the maximum temperature recorded at 34.4 degrees Celsius, 8.1 notches above normal.

"When the maximum temperature is more than four degrees above the normal in the hilly areas, we declare a heat wave in those areas. In Kashmir, it has gone up between 6 and 8 degrees in all recording stations of the Valley," Director of the Meteorological (MeT) Department Sonam Lotus said.

The director said the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir yesterday recorded the hottest day of this year so far at 35 degrees Celsius.

Lotus said there was no respite in sight from the unusually high temperatures in the Valley over the next few days.

Mercury rose by a few notches in the national capital today with the maximum temperature settling at 41.7 degrees Celsius. However, the relative humidity in the evening was 62 per cent.

In Maharashtra's Nashik, five people were killed in two separate rain-related incidents as pre-monsoon showers accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning hit the division over the weekend.

A woman and her three minor daughters were killed when a tree fell on them in Dhule district, while a man died when lightning struck him in Nashik district yesterday.

Heavy pre-monsoon rains lashed the some tehsils of Nashik district on Saturday and Sunday, causing damage to several houses and crops.

The weatherman has predicted thunderstorm and dust storm accompanied with gusty winds at isolated places in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar till tomorrow.

Dust storms have become a regular phenomenon in the state and have left over 130 people dead last month.

Light rains and thunderstorm occurred at isolated places over eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh, while the weather was dry in the western parts, the MeT department said, adding that Jhansi was the hottest place in the state at 44.8 degrees Celsius.

Intense heat conditions continued in parts of Rajasthan where Sriganganagar was recorded as the hottest place with a maximum of 47 degrees Celsius followed by Bikaner which recorded 46.6 degrees Celsius.

Punjab and Haryana too continued to reel under severe heat wave conditions with Narnaul being the hottest place in both the states with a maximum temperature of 45 degrees Celsius.