Heavy showers lash capital after week-long lull

New Delhi, Aug 27 (UNI) After an over week-long lull, moderate to heavy rains today hit Delhi, bringing the mercury down and providing Delhiites tremendous relief from heat and humid weather conditions over the last week.

The showers, which lashed Delhi at around 1530 hours, brought mercury down in the city by three to four degrees. The rain and the accompanying Westerly winds led to a sudden coolness in the air in Delhi, which has been experiencing hot and humid weather conditions over the last week, with the mercury yesterday rising to 37.4 Degrees C, three degrees above normal.

The weathermen said the showers, which followed an overcast sky since early this morning, were caused by the influence of an off-shore Monsoon trough.

They also said that today's rainfall could be the beginning of a phase of heavy rainfall in Delhi.

''The current meteorological analysis suggests that scattered to fairly widespread rainfall is likely over plains of Northwest India from August 28 to 31,'' the Met office said.

The Met office has forecast a generally cloudy sky in Delhi during the next 24 hours with possibility of rain or thundershowers in some areas.

UNI