The death toll in the current heat wave conditions in southern,central and northern parts of the country reached 409 Wednesday, according to the Press Trust of India.
Sixteen people died in Punjab, Haryana and Chandiarh in blistering heat as several parts in the region heaved some relief with a duststorm accompanied by rain bringing down mercury by a few degrees.
While Andhra Pradesh topped the casualty with 373 deaths, Orissa accounted for seven, Chhatisgarh five, Madhya Pradesh four,Rajasthan two and one each in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.
( May 16, 2002)
