Mercury rises in HP; Una hottest at 42.3 deg C

Several places across Himachal Pradesh recorded the hottest day of the season with Una in the Shivalik foothills registering a high of 42.3 degrees Celsius, five degrees above normal.

Sundernagar, Nahan and Bhuntar on the mid hills were warmer with the day temperatures at 39.3 degrees Celsius, 37.9 degrees Celsius and 37 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal.

The local Meteorological (MeT) office has forecast further rise in the temperature due to dry weather during the next six days that might intensify the heat wave conditions in the lower hills reeling under scorching sun.

The sudden rise in the mercury has triggered fires in pine forests at many places. The fallen dry pine needles being highly inflammable, fires are spreading fast and the forest department has alerted the field staff and also appealed to the people to cooperate in preventing the forest fires, a forest department official said