Kolkata: The intense heat wave sweeping West Bengal has claimed the lives of 15 people during the past three days with the average temperature hovering at 45 degrees Celsius.
While nine people died in Burdwan district, three each were killed in Kolkata and Purulia district.
In Burdwan district, five people died in several parts of Asansole sub-division, its Sub-Divisional Officer Surojit Dutta Sharma said. Four others died in Durgapur, hospital sources said. The deaths occurred on Sunday and Monday.
Three persons -- a woman and two men -- died of sunstroke in three different places in Kolkata on Monday, police said.
A 33-year-old man died due to sunstroke at Charah in Purulia district on Monday, District Magistrate Abanindra Singh said, adding that the toll has reached to three persons in the past three days.
The Regional Meteorological Office said Birbhum, Burdwan, Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore districts recorded around 45 degree Celsius or more during the day on Monday, while Kolkata registered the season's highest of 40.2 degree Celsius.
