Thundershowers lash parts of region

Chandigarh, May 19 (UNI) Parts of north-west India were lashed by thundershowers today, providing respite to the people from rising temperatures in the region.

The rain, accompanied by high velocity winds, brought down the mercury by one degree to four degrees below normal in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh.

The Weather Office has predicted moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers at many places in Himachal Pradesh and dustsorm or thunderstorm with light to moderate rain at few places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours.

Hailstorm or thundersquall with wind speed exceeding 45 km per hour is likely to occur at isolated places in the region during the period.

In Punjab, the temperature dipped to 39.1 degrees at Patiala following rain. Amritsar was cool at 35.9 degrees, three degrees below normal, while Ludhiana recorded 39.0 degrees, two degrees below normal.

A windstorm, accompanied by rain, swept Hissar in Haryana, disruptng movement of traffic and power supply in the area. Hissar recorded 39.4 degrees celsius. A moderate rain lashed Ambala, causing the temperature to decline to 37.0 degrees, four degrees below normal. Ambala recorded 27mm rainfall while Karnal reported trace rains. Rohtak also experienced rain, recording 10.2 mm rainfall till 0830 hours.

Many areas in Himachal Pradesh, including Dharamsala, Naudan, Dhundi, Sundernagar, Rampur and Kalpa, experienced moderate rain since last night. Shimla recorded 5 mm rain.

Sharp showers, accompanied by high speed wind, lashed Chandigarh and its adjoining areas providing relief from the hot weather conditions. The city recorded two mm rain and the temperature stood at 37.6 degrees celsius.

UNI VKJ YA HS1903