Ahmedabad, April 28 (IANS) Three people have died in a heat wave in Gujarat this weekend, officials said Monday. The deaths took place in Narmada, Bhavnagar and Rajkot districts. The meteorological department has said the situation is unlikely to improve in north and central Gujarat - Saurashtra and Kutch for the next two days.

Idar in Sabarkantha district recorded a high of 44.4 degree Celsius Sunday followed by Ahmedabad at 43.2, Porbandar at 39.5 and Bhuj at 43, four to five degrees above normal.

Kutch is on the boil this season after facing one of the harshest winters. Bhuj, its district headquarters, is now reeling at 43 degrees, normally recorded in May and June.

Weathermen say the temperature in Kutch is likely to rise further in the next 15 to 20 days. The mercury may touch 50 degrees Celsius in Kutch this season.

South Gujarat was the least affected with Surat touching a maximum of 37 degrees Celsius. Vadodara in central Gujarat recorded 41.6 degrees while Rajkot in Saurashtra recorded 43 degrees.

Meteorological officials say the heat wave is due to northwesterly winds from Pakistan.