Heat wave swept several parts of the country today with mercury hovering over 40 degrees in many areas.<br/><br/>In the national capital, the maximum temperature rose from yesterday's 40.1 degrees to 40.5 degree Celsius ,five degree above the normal.<br/><br/>The temperature rose to 41 degrees in Kolkata and its neighbourhood while the districts of Purulia, West Midnapore and Bankura remained in the grip of a heat wave.<br/><br/>Jharsuguda in western Orissa recorded highest temperature of 45 degrees. Many parts of the state reeled under the heatwave condition, which has so far claimed 28 lives in the state.<br/><br/>The desert state of Rajasthan also witnessed severe heat wave conditions with Churu remaining the hottest place with a maximum of over 43.3 degrees followed by Sriganganagar at 43.2 degrees.<br/><br/>Hill states also recorded relatively warm temperature. In Dehra Dun, the state capital of Uttarakhand, the mercury shot up to new high of 38.3 degrees, this is 4 degree above the normal.<br/><br/>With scorching sun, Shimla, known as the queen of hills, remained warm with mercury settling at 27 degrees.<br/><br/>Sundernagar in Himachal Pradesh recorded a maximum of 36.8 degrees.<br/><br/>In Punjab and Haryana, the maximum rose by up to eight notches above normal with Hisar sizzling at 42.7 degrees.<br/><br/>Chandigarh recorded the maximum temperature at 39 deg Celsius.