More rain forecast in the North West

Chandigarh, June 8 (UNI) Low to moderate rains continued in parts of North West, with maximum and minimum temperatures continued to remain below normal in most places.

The rain occuring due to westerly disturbances is considered good for the paddy sowing season which has already begun in Haryana and would commence from June 10 in Punjab. The rains have also led to a rise in the relative humidity to above 75 per cent in the region, considered healthy for the paddy crop.

While Punjab received traces of rain during the last 24 hours, neighbouring Haryana and Himachal Pradesh had low to moderate rain.

Ambala in Haryana which received 18.7 mm rain, recorded a maximum temperature of 32.9 degrees celsius, seven degrees below normal. In Karnal the maximum temperature was 32.0 degrees, 8 degrees below normal. The town had 16.6 mm of rain since last night.

Hisar with maximum temperature of 37.3 degrees, four degrees below normal, received 13.6 mm of rain while Narnaul had 24 mm of rain, the heaviest in Haryana.

In Punjab, the holy city of Amritsar which had only traces of rain was lashed by strong winds that disrupted power and water supply in parts of the walled city. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 38.8 degrees, one degree below normal while the minimum at 21.4 degrees was three degrees below normal.

Patiala however recorded 0.8 mm of rain and the maximum temperature in the city was 34.1 degrees, seven degrees below normal.

The Union Territory of Chandigarh went without rain in the last 24 hours but the temperatures continued to be below normal.The city had a maximum temperature of 33.4 degrees, six degrees below normal while the minimum was 25.0 degrees. The relative humidity in the city was 75 per cent.

Rains continued to lash the hill state of Himachal Pradesh, with Shimla receiving 12.5 mm rain. The maximum temperature in the capital hill resort was 22.4 degrees, two degrees below normal while the minimum was 14.1 degrees, one degree below normal.

Sundernagar in Mandi district had 27.0 mm rain while Bhuntar in adjoining Kullu district received just 1.5 mm rain. Nahan received 8.6 mm rain while Una in the lower hills had 7.6 mm rainfall.

The prediction of the Met office states that light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely to occur in Himachal Pradesh and at isloated places in Punjab and Haryana. Thundersqualls with wind speed of 45 km an hour are likely at a few places in the North West plains.

UNI HS BK1921