Temperatures soar across Himachal

Shimla, June 12 (IANS) A heat wave again gripped parts of Himachal Pradesh Tuesday with temperatures crossing 40 degrees Celsius.

State capital Shimla too recorded a high of 30.1 degrees Celsius, six notches above average.

"Temperatures continued to move up across the state due to lack of rain. The maximum temperature remained above average by three to six degrees," an official at the meteorological office told IANS.

Una town near the Punjab border was the hottest, with the mercury touching 42.3 degrees Celsius.

Sundernagar in Mandi district recorded a maximum of 40.1 degrees Celsius, Bhuntar in Kullu district 37.4 degrees Celsius, Dharamsala in Kangra district 33.8 degrees and Kalpa in Kinnaur district 24.5 degrees Celsius.

The official said the weather was expected to largely remain dry till June 16.