Monsoon vigorous in HP, Haryana

Chandigarh, July 10 (UNI) Moderate to heavy rain lashed most parts of north-west India as monsoon remained vigorous in Himachal Pradesh and Haryana and active in Punjab during the past 24 hours.

The southwest monsoon has further advanced into the remaining parts of Punjab and Haryana, thus covering the entire area, according to the Weather Office here.

It predicted rain or thundershowers at most places in Himachal Pradesh and many places in Punjab and Haryana and warned of heavy rain at isolated places in the region in the next 24 hours.

All rivers in Himachal Pradesh, including the Beas and the Sutlej and their tributaries, were in spate following torrential rains in their catchment areas, triggering landslides. An alert has been sounded in Kinnaur and Shimla districts following sudden rise in water level in Sutlej, Spiti and Baspa rivers and their tributaries due to heavy rains.

Widespread rain lashed Himachal Pradesh last night. The capital town of Shimla recorded 51.2 mm rain till 0830 hours this morning, followed by Sundernagar (47.5 mm), Nahan (57.8 mm), Nagrota Surian (85.5 mm), Gamroor (89.2 mm), Sunni (77.7 mm) Rampur (24.2mm), Sujanpur Tira (50.5 mm), Naudan (36.5 mm), Guler (80.1 mm), and Una (12.8 mm rain).

Monsoon rain were also experienced in several areas of Haryana and Punjab, lowering tempeatures and providing respite from hot weather conditions in these states. Ambala with 51.8 mm rain was the wettest place in Haryana. Karnal measured 47.0 mm, Nelokheri 38.4 mm and Hissar 20.0 mm rainfall till this morning.

In Punjab, Patiala was the wettest place recording 42.2 mm rain, followed by Amritsar registering 28.0 mm and Nangal Dam 5.2 mm rain. Ludhiana reported trace rainfall.

People in Chandigarh had relief from sweltering hot weather conditions with the city experiencing more rain since last night.

The city measured 39.2 mm rain till 0830 hours.

Jammu and Kashmir also experienced monsoon showers. Srinagar, the summer capital, recorded 9.4 mm rain while Jammu, the winter capital, measured 13.4 mm rainfall till morning.

UNI VKJ PA RS1807