Heatwave persists in UP; death toll rises to 11

With mercury hovering around 48 degree Celsius, death toll owing to the ongoing heatwave in parts of Uttar Pradesh has gone up to 11.

Seven more deaths were reported from different parts of the state in the past 48 hours. Banda in Bundelkhand region remained the hottest place in the state with 47.7 degree Celsius followed by Hamirpur in the same region at 47.2 degrees, according to the weather office here. Temperatures remained above 45 degrees in Etawah, Jhansi, Aligarh. 

Though the mercury showed some decrease in Lucknow, Varanasi, Allahabad and some other districts, there was no respite from the heatwave.

The weather office said that the moisture in the air has increased in some parts of the state as a result of which the humidity level has gone up.

Eleven people have died from heatstroke at Mahoba, Ballia, Kanpur and Azamgarh districts.Frequent and prolonged power cuts have made life difficult for the people, especially in the rural areas. The state has been experiencing acute shortage of power for several days.