No let up in the summer blitz, says weatherman

MUMBAI, May 24: As the nation finds itself in the boiling pot of international debate, the weather too is playing its tricks within.The sear...

MUMBAI, May 24: As the nation finds itself in the boiling pot of international debate, the weather too is playing its tricks within.The searing heat in most parts of the country showed no signs of abating today with shooting temperatures claiming 22 more lives during the past two days pushing up the country-wide toll to 70 this summer.

Interior Maharashtra registered temperatures around 2 degrees above normal, while its commercial capital generally remained normal.According to Director, weather bureau, there has been no change in temperatures in Mumbai mainly due to sea and moderate effect. The mercury has remained around 35 degrees celsius maximum and 29 degrees minimum with humidity ranging between 77 -87, comparable with the previous years.According to sources, 28 people have died in Maharashtra in the last two days with temperatures reaching around 44 degrees C.

The nation’s capital, meanwhile, was scorched by the unabating heat wave today as mercury touched 45.6 degree celsius the hottest day in thelast four years. Hot surface winds swept the city for the third consecutive day making it unbearable for Dilliwalas who preferred to remain indoors.Reports coming in from other states and metros speak of similar or worse tales.

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Sambalpur in Western Orissa, ravaged by environmental degradation, is experiencing abnormal summer heat this year with the mercury shooting up to an unprecedented 47.5 degrees celsius yesterday.One more person died in the Jamshedpur heat taking the toll this summer to five. Temperature in this steel city has touched 46 degree celsius today, the highest in the season, and it will only get worse, experts say.In UP the wave sweeping the plains claimed 21 more lives taking the toll to 24 this year. Orai in Jalaun district recorded an amazing 49 degrees, official reports said today.

The heat persisted in at least four West Bengal districts today while Calcutta experienced another uncomfortable humid day. Purulia was the hottest as the mercury there shot up to 44.8 degreescelsius.Down sub-tropical south, in Chennai, usually humid and hot through the year, the hottest week culminated in the hottest day this season, as the mercury shot up to a sweltering 42.7 in Meenambakkam.Meanwhile, weather bureau experts do not seem fan any cooling message for the roasting denizens of plains yet, as they look up the sky and shake their heads forecasting no let-up. Are the rain gods listening ?

PM Modi releases special coin, stamp to mark 100 years of RSS

India1 hr ago

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh [RSS] had suffered at the hands of British and Nizams for its belief of ‘nation first’. He also said RSS members, including founder KB Hedgewar, had been jailed during the freedom struggle. Modi released a special commemorative postage stamp and a coin to mark the centenary of the RSS.

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