Monsoon advance to Maharashtra, W Bengal, Delhi experiences squall

New Delhi, May 31 (UNI) Heavy rains subsided in Karnataka leaving a death toll of 12 while it hit West Bengal and parts of the Northeast, but temperatures soared in most of Northwest with the relief of a squall in the Capital.

Torrential rains that battered the coastal districts of Karnataka since Sunday subsided to a large extent today, even as the death toll in rain-related incidents rose to 12 with two more bodies of the six fishermen feared drowned off Udupi coast being washed ashore.

Overnight heavy rains in major parts of Kolkata and adjoining areas brought much needed relief to the people from high humid condition, the weather office recording 10 mm of rain.

For Mizoram, the much-awaited monsoon has finally arrived bringing joy to farmers across the state and quenching dry lands and putting an end to the water crisis, which has been at its peak recently. Flash floods at Katakhal river in Barak Valley near Silchar in Assam today washed away a concrete bridge being constructed over the river.

The southwest monsoon has further advanced into some more parts of central Araiban sea said the weather office.

At least 11 people sustained burns when lightning struck them in the western suburbs of Mumbai amid thundershowers. He predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunder showers and lightning in Konkan region and other parts of the state in the next 24 hours. The Deputy Director General Meteorological Department (DDGM) C V V Bhadram said that Monsoon is round the corner in the western coastal area.

Last night's rainfall brought the much-needed relief to Mumbai which was reeling under sweltering summer heat.

Incessant rains since this morning on the Konkan Railway route disrupted the services on the sector with most of the Mumbai-bound trains running 4-6 hrs behind schedule.

In Delhi strong winds towards the evening led to a drop in the mercury from 42 to 32 Degrees C, bringing relief from the sultry weather during the day. The humidity was around 53 per cent.

Weathermen have forecast more such squalls, accompanied by duststorms over the next 24 hours.

The heavy squall, blowing at a speed of 50 Km per hour, resulted in slight showers in the capital for a brief while in the evening.

Meanwhile Rajasthan continued to be under the hot spell as rising temperatures sees no sign of abating.

Hot winds, duststorms and eratic power supply were making lives miserable. The state capital recorded 44 degree centigrade today with the sun beating down mercilessly.

Kota recoreded a maximum of 46 degree yesterday while the temperatures in all other regions continue to hover between 44 to 46 degree centigrade.

The temperatures touched 45 degree in Churu, Bikaner, Ganganagar, Jaisalmer and Barmer yesterday while Jaipur, Dabok and Ajmer recorded 44 degree yesterday.

However, Meteorological Department Director, S S Singh, Jaipur centre, said the temperatures is expected to record a fall of 3-4 degree in Jodhpur Udaipur and Ajmer region within the next three days.

Raising hopes of a early monsoon, he also said the monsoon may come earlier than usual this year as Mumbai and Kerala are already witnessing early monsoons this year.

UNI Team ARB KP2011