A heat wave across India intensified with temperatures ranging between 46 and 49 degrees Celsius in cities as the death toll this summer season topped 250, news reports and officials said Wednesday. While heavy rains and gales brought on by cyclone 'Laila' over recent days cooled the south and east of the country, the northern, central and western regions were blazing hot, the Indian Meteorological Department was quoted as saying by the German Press Agency "DPA". A record temperature of 46.3 degrees Celsius was recorded in part of the capital New Delhi on Tuesday. Doctors said hospitals in the city were receiving up to 20 per cent more heat-stroke patients compared to last year. Cities such as Kota, Hissar and Ganganagar in the northern states of Haryana and Rajasthan all recorded 48 degrees on Tuesday. On Monday, temperatures rose to a country-wide record of 49.2 degrees Celsius in Morena in the central state of Madhya Pradesh.
