Malda, June 1: The temperature soared to 42.5?C today as the scorching heat wave that has scalded Malda district claimed two more persons, taking the toll to five in the past 48 hours.

Three women from the remote Bhutni island in Manikchak police station area were working in a maize field yesterday, when they fell unconscious. They were rushed to the Manikchak hospital where they were pronounced dead. Describing the incident as ?tragic?, the sabhapati of Manikchak panchayat samiti, Madhabi Chowdhury, sent her condolences to the bereaved families. She said local Uttar Chandipur gram panchayat pradhan Bholanath Mondal had been asked to send the names and addresses of the deceased to the block development office for the sanction of compensation.

In another part of the district, Samir Halder from Kadubari village in Gajole police station area, was coming to the town to visit an ill relative at the district hospital today when he collapsed on the way. He was pronounced dead when taken to the hospital.

The heat wave that started scorching the district from May 25 killed yet another resident, Unis Seikh (50) of Maheshbati area in Malda town, this afternoon.

A local councillor organised a yajna on the Ganga last night, but the rain gods hardly seem to be gratified even after 24 hours. A drought-like situation continues to prevail with the water level going down 15 m. The irrigation lifts cannot be operated, resulting in the withering of crops. The authorities have promised to install 350 tubewells across the district, said an official source.

Sabhadhipati of the zilla parishad Gautam Chakraborty said: ?Hobibpur, Bamongola, Gajole and Old Malda blocks are the worst-hit areas.?