NEW DELHI: At least 45 people were killed in north and eastern part of the country due to massive storm and lightning, while accompanying rains brought down mercury in most parts reeling under heatwave.
The national capital witnessed pleasant morning as minimum temperature was recorded at 25 degrees celsius, three notches below the normal level, a day after the massive thunderstorm.
According to meteorological department, the maximum temperature was 42.8 degrees celsius, 2 notches above normal.
A massive thunderstorm hit the national capital and several other states last evening and early Saturday morning.
At least 14 people were killed in Delhi and the NCR region in incidents of falling trees, collapse of walls and electrocution.
In Uttar Pradesh, at least 14 people were killed due to thunderstorm which hit several parts of the state on Friday evening.
Light rains also lashed several parts of the state leading to a drop in day temperature on Saturday.
The highest temperature was 45.6 degrees celsius in Banda district.
In Jharkhand, seven people were killed in a storm that raged across the state early this morning uprooting electricity poles and hundreds of trees.
The storm hit at around 4.30am and according to reports a large number of electricity poles and hundreds of trees were uprooted in in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Hazaribagh, Latehar and some other districts.
While in West Bengal, 10 people were killed and 28 others injured in lightning strike in three districts which experienced widespread pre-monsoon showers this morning, officials said.
While five people died in Murshidabad district, three persons were killed in Purulia district and two others died in Burdwan district.
The state experienced widespread rains ranging from 30mm to 50mm this morning, the weatherman said in Kolkata.
However, Punjab and Haryana had no any respite from heat wave.
Hisar in Haryana was the hottest place in both states as its maximum was 44.1 degrees celsius, Met department said here on Saturday.
Amritsar had a high of 42.4 degrees celsius, two degrees above normal.
Union Territory Chandigarh saw mercury settling at 43.7 degrees celsius, up by five degrees above normal. (PTI)