Many areas in northwest experience rain

Chandigarh, June 28 (UNI) Many parts of north-west India were lashed by rain since last night, plummeting temperature and providing much-needed relief to people from sizzling heat in the region.

The mercury hovered three degrees to five degrees Celsius below normal in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh following rainfall.

Western disturbance lay over Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining north Pakistan as an upper air cyclonic circulation persisted, extending upto 3.6 km above sea level. The induced upper air cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan and adjoining north-west Rajasthan also persisted and extended upto 1.5 km above sea level, according to the Weather Office here.

Moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at many places in Himachal Pradesh and light to moderate rain or thunershowers at few places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours, the Met Office said.

In Punjab, moderate rain lashed Amritsar and Ludhiana till this morning, respectively recording 20.0 mm and 23.4 mm rainfall. The temperatures stayed low in both the towns following downpour.

Amritsar recorded 35.6 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal, and Ludhiana 34.8 degrees, down five degrees than normal. The mercury settled at 34.7 degrees, four degrees below normal at Patiala.

Several areas in Haryana, including Hissar and Panchkula, also had rain. Ambala reported trace rainfall till morning today. The mercury dipped five degrees below normal at Karnal, recording 32.8 degrees Celsius, and four degrees below normal at Ambala registering 34.9 degrees Celsius.

Moderate to heavy rain lashed mid and lower hills in Himachal Pradesh, bringing a considerable fall in the temperatures.

Dharamshala, headquarters of Kangra district, experienced heavy downpour, recording 90.4 mm of rain, a report from Shimla, quoting Met office, said. The capital town and its adjoining areas were lashed by sharp showers.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas were also lashed by rain. The city measured 3.8 mm rain till morning. However, the temperature slightly rose in Chandigarh recording 33.6 degrees which was still four degrees below normal. Reports of moderate rainfall have also poured in from Jammu region.

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