Amritsar records 41.5 degrees celsius

Chandigarh, June 23 (UNI) People groaned under intense heat at Amritsar with the mercury soaring to 41.5 degrees celsius, turning it the hottest place in Punjab.

Elsewhere in the north-west region, the temperature slightly fell at Ludhiana, Patiala, Karnal and Chandigarh, providing respite to people from sweltering heat.

The temperature hovered one degree above normal at Amritsar.

Ludhiana showed 39.8 degrees and Patiala 39.2 degrees celsius.

Hissar with 41.2 degrees continued to be hottest place in Haryana.

The town recorded 4 mm rainfall. However, the mercury marginally rose at Ambala recording 39.8 degrees Celsius.

The temperature also declined in Himachal Pradesh with Sundernagar in Mandi district recording 35.9 degrees and the capital town of Shimla 24.3 degrees Celsius. Kalpa in Kinnaur district registered 24.8 degrees.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana also recorded a fall in the temperature following rain. The city, which reported 16 mm rain, recorded 38.8 degrees Celsius.

Yesterday's western disturbance over Himachal Pradesh and its neighbourhood has moved away eastwards across western Himalayas, according to the weather office here. A fresh western disturbance lay over north-east Afghanistan and adjoining north Pakistan as an upper air cyclonic circulation extended upto 5.8 km above sea level.

An induced upper air cyclonic circulation over south Rajasthan and neighbourhood now lay over west Madhya Pradesh and extended upto 4.5 km above sea level.

The weather office predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers at few places in Himachal Pradesh and isolated places in Haryana and Punjab during the next 24 hours.

UNI VKJ SB KP1936