Punjab, Haryana reel under heat wave

Chandigarh, Jun 23 (PTI) Heat wave conditions prevailed in Punjab and Haryana today with day temperature breaching 43 degree Celsius mark at several parts of states. The hottest places in Punjab and Haryana were Amritsar and Hissar respectively with maximum 43.4 deg C and 43.5 deg C, a met office release said. The temperature in Amritsar was five notches above normal while at Hissar it was three degree above normal. Chandigarh had a high of 40.1 deg C which was three degrees above normal. The day temperatures at most places in the two states, including Bhiwani, Karnal, Narnaul and Rohtak in Haryana and in Ludhiana and Patiala in Punjab were above 40 deg C. The met office has forecast light rain or thundershowers in the two states during the coming 24 hours. The residents of Chandigarh as also of Haryana and Punjab had to face unscheduled power cuts.