Monsoon advances into J

Chandigarh, June 29 (UNI) Southwest monsoon has advanced into entire Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Himachal Pradesh as several areas in the region experienced rains while a severe duststorm plunged Hissar into darkness.

The monsoon has further advanced into entire east Uttar Pradesh, some parts of west Uttar Pradesh and the entire Uttaranchal, according to the Weather Office here.

The mercury dipped two to seven degrees celsius below normal in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandgiarh Union Territory.

In Haryana, a severe duststorm, followed by rain, lashed Hissar, plunging the town into darkness. The duststorm from Rajasthan side reduced visibility considerably, forcing vehicular traffic to move with headlights for about 40 minutes during daytime. Such a change in weather in the town, which recorded 24 mm rainfall till 1500 hours today, was noticed almost after a decade, a report from Hissar said.

The temperature settled at 35.7 degrees C, three degrees below normal at Ambala and at 33.6 degrees C, four degrees down, at Karnal.

In Punjab, the mercury declined seven degrees below normal at Amritsar and Ludhiana, recording 31.8 degrees and 33.0 degrees Celsius respectively.

Moderate rains lashed mid and lower hills in Himachal Pradesh, plummeting the temperature. Shimla recorded 10.2 mm rainfall till morning today.

The mercury hovered four degrees below normal at Chandigarh recording 34.0 degrees C and trace rainfall.

Yesterday's Western disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining Himachal Pradesh has moved away eastwards across western Himalayas. The induced upper air cyclonic circulation over north Rajasthan and adjoining Punjab and Haryana now lay over south east Haryana adjoining west Uttar Pradesh, extending upto 2.1 km above sea level. Another upper air cyclonic circulation over south-west Jammu and Kashmir and neighbourhood extended upto 2.1 km above sea level, the Weather Office said.

Moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers will occur at many places in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours, the Met Office said.

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