The entire northern and eastern India is in the grip of a severe heat wave with Sriganganagar in Rajasthan reeling at 44.8 degree Celsius on Sunday and Purulia in West Bengal recording 44 degrees. Kolkata at 41 degrees witnessed five notches above normal temperature at this time. Soaring mercury, coupled with power woos, made life miserable for people in West Bengal and heat wave warnings were issued in many districts like West Midnapore, Birbhum, Bankura, and Burdwan. Many areas suffered power black-outs with several units of Kolaghat, Bakreshwar and Purulia power generating stations breaking down. In the desert State of Rajasthan, Sriganganagar sizzled at 44.8 degrees followed by Churu 43.3 degree Celsius, Kota 42.3 degree Celsius, Jodhpur 40.6 degree Celsius, Jaisalmer 40.5 degree Celsius and Balmer 40.2 degree Celsius. In Punjab and Haryana too, most parts recorded temperatures above the 40-degree mark. Hisar was hottest in the region with a maximum temperature of 44.3 degrees Celsius, eight notches above normal, while the high in Patiala settled at 41.6 degree Celsius, seven degrees above normal, and Karnal 41 degree Celsius. Elsewhere, Ambala recorded a maximum temperature of 40.8 degree Celsius, Ludhiana 40.6 degree Celsius, Amritsar 40.2 degree Celsius and Chandigarh 39.8 degree Celsius. Normal life was affected in several areas due to shortage of electricity and water as people remained mostly indoors. In Jammu and Kashmir, winter capital Jammu endured a hot day recording a high of 39.5 degrees, seven notches above normal. The night temperature in the