Searing heat claims 15 more; monsoon hits NE region

New Delhi, : Coal town Talchar in Orissa was the hottest spot sizzling at 50 degrees celsius on Friday with the heat wave blistering vast swathes of the country claiming 18 more lives as monsoon advanced into the North-East drenching the entire region.

Thirteen deaths were reported from West Bengal and five in Uttar Pradesh as mercury soared to over 45 degrees celsius at many places in the country forcing people to stay indoors.

Of the 13 fatalities in West Bengal, five occurred in Asansol colliery belt in Bardhaman district where temperatures hovered between 48 degrees celsius and 51 degrees celsius.

As the scorching heat showed no signs of let up, Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee asked authorities to extend summer vacation in schools.

Gruelling heat wave persisted in Orissa with mercury zooming to 50 degrees celsius in Talchar and 46.2 degrees in capital city Bhubaneswar.

The mid-day temperature in Talcher was this summer's highest, almost equalling the record of 50.1 degrees registered at Titilagarh on June 5, 2003.

The oppressive heat in the state hit normal life with shops and business establishments downing shutters after noon and cities and towns wearing a deserted look.

Ending the dry spell, the monsoon on Friday hit the North-East with rainfall fairly distributed in the entire region.

The monsoon had already reached sub-himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim and was likely to advance into Orissa in the next few days, Met office said.

Heat wave continued unabated in North India with Hisar in Haryana turning out to be the hottest zone with a high of 44.7 degrees celsius.