Indian Heat Wave Kills 53

WEATHER REPORT

An Indian woman eats an ice-cream in New Delhi, 08 May 2006. Temperatures across northern India continued to rise with the Indian capital reported 44 degrees Celscius (116 Farenheit), its hottest temperature of the summer on 06 May. Temperatures hovered above normal in states such as Bihar, Haryana and Punjab, the weather office reported, warning the sweltering conditions could continue until the onset of the annual monsoon rains due at the end of June. Scores of cities and towns are also facing massive water shortages and prolonged power cuts, triggering attacks on those running the overwhelmed state-run utilities. Prakash Singh and AFP.

by Staff Writers
Lucknow, India (AFP) May 09, 2006
The death toll from a blistering heatwave across India climbed to 53 Monday and weather forecasters predicted worse to come with temperatures already above 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Six more people had died "of heat stroke in the last 24 hours taking the toll to 25," in Uttar Pradesh said state police official Mukesh Singh.

All the dead were poor and homeless, he said from the state capital Lucknow. Two of the dead were children.

The other deaths were reported from eastern Orissa state where 27 people died of heat-related problems over the weekend. One death was also reported in the holy city of Amritsar in Punjab state.

In Lucknow the day temperature was likely to rise in the next 24 hours, R.K. Verma, director of the state Meteorological Department, told AFP.

"Hot winds are likely to sweep the plains of Uttar Pradesh, making life more miserable," he warned.

In New Delhi the temperature climbed to 44.5 degrees Celsius at the weekend and dust storms were expected by Wednesday.

"The temperature should come down by at least one or two degrees in the next 48 hours," said meteorologist R.D Singh.

Neighbouring Haryana state registered temperatures above 47 C (117 Fahrenheit).

India overheats in May ahead of the onset of the southwest monsoon rains that normally sweep the subcontinent from June to September.

Scores of cities and towns in India are facing water shortages and prolonged power cuts, triggering a spate of criticism of those running the overwhelmed state-run utilities.

Source: Agence France-Presse

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WEATHER REPORT

Pakistan Heatwave Claims 31 Lives

Multan, Pakistan (AFP) May 09, 2006
At least 31 people have died as a searing heatwave brought temperatures of nearly 47 degrees Celsius (116 Fahrenheit) to central Pakistan, officials said Monday. The hot spell comes amid a warning from the country's top meteorologist that Pakistan faces a possible drought with no significant rain expected in the next two months.

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