North India Swelters in Intense Heat Wave: With 49.1°C, Haryana's Sirsa Becomes India's Hottest

Chandigarh: With a maximum temperature of 49.1°C, Sirsa became the hottest city in the country followed by Faridkot in Punjab sweltering at 48.3°C on Thursday.

Chandigarh, the common capital of the Punjab and Haryana, also sweltered, recording a maximum of 44.9 degrees Celsius.

According to the MeT Department here, blistering heat swept Sirsa in Haryana and Faridkot in Punjab.

Among other places in Punjab, intense heat prevailed in Bathinda, which clocked 46.4 degrees Celsius, while Amritsar recorded a maximum of 45.4 degrees Celsius.

Ludhiana registered a high of 45.6 degrees Celsius, Patiala 46.2 degrees Celsius, while Gurdaspur's maximum settled at 43 degrees Celsius.

In Haryana, extremely hot weather conditions prevailed in Jhajjar and Faridabad, which recorded maximums of 47.9 degrees Celsius and 47.4 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Mahendragarh and Rohtak recorded a maximum temperature of 47.5 degrees Celsius followed by Hisar at 47 degrees Celsius, Ambala at 44.7 degrees Celsius and Karnal at 43.4 degrees Celsius.

Eight Die of Heat Stroke in Bihar

Intense heatwave conditions prevailed across Bihar on Thursday where the mercury soared past the 44 degrees Celsius mark in many places while eight persons lost their lives in the state suspected to have been caused by the scorching weather.

The state disaster management department, while confirming the number of deaths, said the cause of death could not be ascertained since most of the bereaved family members refused to go for post-mortem examinations while reports of the other deceased are awaited.

The state reeled under the sizzling heat as the day temperature crossed 44 degrees C at several places across the state on Thursday.

Buxar recorded the highest temperature of 47.1 deg C.

Eight deaths due to suspected heat stroke were reported from Arwal, Buxar, Rohtas and Begusarai districts.

"Only after receiving the autopsy reports, the authorities will be in a position to state the reasons behind the deaths. As of now, we can't comment on this. Some post-mortem examination reports are awaited. We are waiting for that,'' a senior official of the state Disaster Management Department said.

Amid intense heatwave conditions in the state, the Bihar government on Wednesday ordered the closure of all private and government-run schools, coaching institutes and Anganwadi centres until June 8.

Incidents of school teachers fainting were reported from Sheikhpura, Begusarai, Muzaffarpur and East Champaran districts, and other regions due to the scorching heat. State-run schools are closed for students, not for teachers.

In Patna, the maximum temperature was recorded at 40.7 deg C.

"People are advised to avoid heat exposure, keep cool and avoid dehydration," said the official. (with PTI inputs)