The heat wave continues to sweep northern, central and southern parts of India Tuesday as the death toll rose to 189 with Andhra Pradesh bearing the maximum brunt with 175 deaths.
According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), coastal plains and Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh groaned under oppressive heat as Guntur bore the brunt with 84 people succumbing to heat stroke, West Godavari 44, Khammam 29, Visakhapatnam 10 and Adilabad six. Deaths were also reported from Karimngar, Nizambad and Chittor.
Four people died in Madhaya Pradesh, five in Chhatisgarh, two each in Punjab and Rajasthan, and on in Tamil Nadu.
In the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, Kovvour in West Godavari district sizzled with mercury climbing to a high of 49.5 degree Celsius, Vijayawada to 46 degree and Hyderabad 41.6.
Many parts of the northern region also reeled under severe heat with Chandigarh recording a maximum of 40.4 degree Celsius. Ludhiana and Patiala recorded a high of 44.3 and 42.3 degree Celsius, respectively.
However, the meteorological department said some relief seems to be in sight at many places in Punjab, Haryana and surrounding areas as laden clouds are blowing in from the west, which will provide breather to the heat in the region.
(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2002)
