The ongoing heat wave conditions in most parts of Punjab and Haryana today continued unabated, claiming at least eight lives and forcing people in the region to confine themselves indoors.
While six persons lost their lives due to an intense heat wave in Punjab, two have died in Haryana in the past three days, officials said here today.
In Punjab, three persons lost their lives in Amritsar, two in Ferozepur and one in Tarn Taran, whereas in Haryana one each died in Hisar and Sirsa.
All the eight deaths took place due to the heat wave, officials said.
According to the Met office here, there is little chance of any relief from the heat wave in the next couple of days.
The Met has forecast that the maximum temperature will hover between 41 to 43 degrees Celsius at most places in the region.
Warm winds will also sweep the region and dust storms might strike some areas, the Met office said, attributing the unusually high temperature in the region to the absence of western disturbances.
Chandigarh is braving a hot 43 degrees Celsius, the Met said here.
In the wake of the intense heat wave, most markets in the region have been wearing a deserted look in the afternoons.
The exact day temperature in the region, which is likely to hover between 41 to 43 degrees Celsius, will be known towards the evening.
Meanwhile, frequent interruptions in power supply and low pressure of water added to the woes of the people in the region.
Due to the torrid heat conditions, water levels in most rivers, including the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej had fallen sharply, officials said.
The water level of the Bhakra Dam had come down to 1563.72 foot and that of Pong Dam to 1309.59 foot, they said, adding that the fall in the water level was up to 10 feet in both the dams.
Most parts of Punjab and Haryana, including Chandigarh, Hisar and Amritsar, have been facing the hottest days in the past decade in the month of May, officials said.