Chandigarh, Apr 29 (UNI) The mercury soared to 44.8 degrees celsius at Hissar as heat wave persisted in Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh Union Territory today.

The temperature hovered six degrees above normal at Hissar, the hottest place in Haryana, although the town experienced cloudy weather in the afternoon. The temperature had touched 45 degrees celsius yesterday.

Karnal with 38.6 degrees and Ambala with 39.8 degrees recorded a slight fall in the temperatures but the mercury stayed two degrees above normal in the both the towns.

People groaned under a severe heat wave in Punjab and continued to face major power cuts. Ludhiana was the hottest place in the state as the maximum touched 41.2 degrees, four degrees above normal.

Amritsar showed 41.0 degrees, five degrees above normal, and Patiala 40.2 degrees, two degrees up.

Scorching heat wave lashed Chandigarh and its surrounding areas with the city recording 39.4 degrees, three degrees above normal.

Heat wave conditions also prevailed in lower areas of Himachal Pradesh. The temperature stayed five degrees above normal at Shimla and Bhuntar in Kullu district, recording 26.3 degrees and 33.9 degrees respectively.

The weather office has predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers at few places in Himachal Pradesh and duststorm or thunderstorm with light rain at few places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours. Hailstorm or thundersqualls with wind speed exceeding 45 kmph is likely to occur at isolated places in the region during the period.

UNI VKJ PR BD1941