2 die of heat as temperatures, humidity rise; rains elusive

Chandigarh, July 7: Two people have died due to intense heat as the maximum temperatures in the northwest plains rose by one to four degrees above normal amid extreme humid conditions, while the region has so far received scanty rainfall.

With no rainfall for the last two days, the monsoon showers have remained less than half of the normal in the region, including Himachal Pradesh.

Two rickshaw pullers died of heat and humidity in Amritsar where the mercury rose to 38.4 degrees Celsius, a degree above normal.

It was hot at 39.5 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal, at Patiala and 38.2 C, one degree above normal in Ludhiana.

Hisar in Haryana remained the hottest place in the region at 42.4 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal. Ambala and Karnal had the maximum of 39.0 degree Celsius, which was three degrees above normal.

Shimla recorded the maximum of 24.1 degree Celsius, two degrees above normal. Significantly, Shimla has so far received 134 mm rainfall since the onset of monsoon on July three in the region, which was far less than the normal of 218.7mm.

The monsoon showers remained far less than the average in Punjab and Haryana for the last four days. The Chandigarh city and its surrounding areas of Punjab and Haryana have received a total of 84 mm rainfall since the onset of monsoon, which is far less than the average of 176 mm. Ambala has so far been the most dry with just 38.4 mm of rainfall.

Patiala has received 37.1 mm rainfall, against the average of 90.5 mm, while it was 62.5 mm in Ludhiana, which was 28 mm less than the average.

According to the weather forecast, light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at isolated places in Punjab and haryana and at many places in Himachal Pradesh.

UNI