New Delhi: As several areas in North and Southern parts of the country reeled under intense heat wave which has so far claimed 1045 lives, people prayed for rains in temples and mosques.

In the worst hit Andhra Pradesh alone, 1,020 people have died in the continuing heat wave, officials said.

The chronic drought-hit district of Nalgonda in Telangana region accounted for the highest number of 192 deaths followed by East Godavari 152, Guntur 138, Warangal 130 and Prakasam 98.

Three more deaths were reported today -- a beggar and a 55-year old man in Bihar and a taxi driver in West Bengal.

Temperatures soared to the season's highest in many cities in the North including the capital Delhi which recorded 44.2 degree Celsius, three degrees above normal. Kanpur registered 45 degrees Celsius, four above normal.

Mercury hovered around 43.5 to 47 degree Celsius in most cities and towns of the state forcing people to remain indoors.

In Karnataka, which is facing acute drinking water shortage, Muslims joined Hindus in offering prayers to propitiate the rain god. Over 2,000 Muslims converged at idgah maidan in Bangalore reciting verses from Quran.

Prayers for immediate rain were held in various temples throughout West Bengal where power-cuts and water scarcity made life miserable and farmers were wary of drying up of vegetation in fields due to excessive heat.

The Met office however said there would be no respite from the heat in the next few days.

PTI