Dhaka - At least eight people have died of heat stroke this week during a nearly weeklong heat wave in Bangladesh, reports from the countryside said Tuesday. Five people died of heat stroke and heat-related ailments in the northern districts of Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Bogra while three others died in the southern districts of Bhola, Jessore and Gopalganj, the bangladeshnews24. com news agency reported, quoting officials.

Many others across the country fell sick because of the heat.

Abdur Rahman, an officials at the meteorological department, said Tuesday that temperatures might start falling within a day or two.

The country experienced its highest temperature in 14 years Monday at 42.8 degrees. However, temperatures dropped Tuesday when a high of 39.2 degrees was recorded.

Outbreaks of water-borne diseases also broke out across Bangladesh as a result of the heat and a lack of clean drinking water. Diarrhoea cases rose in Dhaka, where 2,292 people were admitted to hospital.

Student attendance at educational institutions also dropped significantly because of the heat wave, said Mahbubur Rahman, a teacher in the southern district of Barguna.

Farmers are also facing problems as day labourers cannot stay in the fields for long under the blazing sun. (dpa)