Moderate rain lashes HP

Chandigarh, Aug 4 (UNI) Moderate rain lashed many areas of Himachal Pradesh and few areas of Punjab and Haryana since last night.

Hot and humid weather conditions persisted in the plains even as rains lashed some parts of Punjab and Haryana.

In Punjab, Ludhiana reported heavy showers, recording 23.2 mm downpour till 0830 hrs. Nangal Dam site recorded 2.2 mm rain while Patiala had trace rainfall.

Parts of Haryana also experienced rainfall. Panchkula recorded 10 mm, Rohtak 4.6 mm and Morni 4.0 mm till this morning.

Moderate to heavy rain lashed many areas of Himachal Pradesh, including lower and mid hills, triggering landslides at certain places. All rivers, including the Sutlej and the Beas, flowing through the state were in spate.

Shimla was the wettest place in the state, recording 24.4 mm rainfall till this morning, followed by Solang Nullah registering 17.7 mm, Bhang-Manali 19.8 mm, Sujanpur Tira 16.9 mm, Pandoh 16.5 mm, Sundernagar 14.2 mm, Bhuntar 14.0 mm and Rampur 11.6 mm. Naudan, Kasol, Kahu, Barthin, Guler, Dhundi and Kalpa areas also had rainfall.

Rains also lashed upper areas of Shimla district, including tourist places of Wildflower Hall, Naldehra, Kufri and Narkanda in Shimla district. The tourist resort of Manali in Kullu district also had rainfall.

Humid weather conditions prevailed in Chandigarh although the city experienced downpour last night and early this morning. Chandigarh measured 4.0 mm rain till this morning.

Moderate rain pounded Srinagar, the Summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recording 22.6 mm rainfall while Jammu, the state's winter capital, reported 0.2 mm rainfall till this morning.

Rain-related incidents in the region have claimed the lives of 15 people during the current monsoon season so far. Nine people have died in Himachal Pradesh, four in Haryana and two in Punjab.

The Met Office predicted moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers at most places in Himachal Pradesh and many places in Haryana and Punjab during the next 24 hours. Heavy rain is likley to occur at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and north Punjab during the next 48 hours.

UNI VKJ YA PC1808