Two children washed away in Patiala temperature rises in Amritsar

Chandigarh, June 24 (UNI) Two children were washed away in a flooded nullah in Patiala following heavy downpour, while blistering heat wave conditions prevailed at Amritsar where the mercury touched 42.6 degrees celsius but temperature remained low in certain areas in north-west region.

The children were identified as Jitinder (12) and Sunny (9).

They were washed away in an uncovered nullah which was flooded due to rain at Topkhanamod locality in Patiala.

The bodies were recovered later. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident.

The maximum hovered two degrees above normal Amritsar, turning it the hottest place in Punjab. Ludhiana showed 39.2 degrees, one degree below normal.

Sharp showers, accompanied by high speed winds, lashed Patiala and adjoining areas, dipping the temperature. The windstorm uprooted trees, blew off hoardings and disrupted power supply in the town which measured 18 mm rainfall.

In Haryana, the mercury declined to 37.8 degrees at Karnal but remained static at 39.8 degrees celsius at Ambala which recorded 11mm rain.

The temperatures also dipped in Himachal Pradesh following rain in mid hills. The temperature plummeted to 33.1 degrees at Sundernagar in Mandi district which recorded trace rainfall. There was no change in the maximum at State capital Shimla which recorded 24.3 degrees and trace rain. However, the mercury rose at Kalpa in Kinnaur district, registering 25.1 degrees.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas were lashed by dusty winds and rain which arrested further rise in the mercury. The city, which reported 8 mm rain, recorded 38.8 degrees celsius.

Yesterday's western disturbance over north-east Afghanistan and adjoining north Pakistan now lay over north pakistan and adjoining north-east Afghansitan as an upper air cyclonic circulation extended upto 5.8 km above sea level with a trough aloft.

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

Hailstorm or thundersquall with speed exceeding 65 km per hour is likely to occur at isolated places in the region during the period.

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