Rains lash HP, Punjab

Chandigarh, Aug 21 (UNI) Monsoon rains lashed many areas in Himachal Pradesh and few areas in Punjab during the past 24 hours, providing respite to people from hot weather conditions in the plains.

Monsoon remained active in Himachal Pradesh, causing widespread rains triggering landslides and disrupting vehicular traffic especially in interior and link roads in the state. All rivers and their tributaries flowing through the state and rivulets were swollen.

Moderate to heavy rain pounded mid and lower hills and several areas in Kangra, Chamba, Mandi, Kullu and Shimla districts overnight, dipping the temperatures.

Sujanpur Tira recorded 47.0 mm rain, followed by Kheri measuring 54.2 mm, Gamroor 40.4 mm, Tisa 44.0 mm, Pandoh 29.0 mm, Guler 21.0 mm and Dhundi 61.1 mm rainfall.

Chamba, Bhang-Manali, Solang Nullah, Naudan, Sundernagar, Kasol, Kahu and Suni areas were also lashed by rains.

Rains also pounded Shimla and its adjoining areas, including tourist places of Wildflower Hall, Kufri, Naldehra and Narkanda in the district and the key tourist place of Manali in Kullu district.

The capital town recorded 51.1 mm rainfall till this morning.

Moderate to heavy rain lashed certain areas in Punjab with Ranjit Sagar dam site turning the wettest place recording 132.4 mm rainfall overnight. Shahpur Kandi registered 48.2 mm while Madhopur, near Pathankot, reported 14.0 mm rain till this morning.

Several areas of Jammu and Kashmir also experienced monsoon rain.

Basholi with 143.0 mm was the wettest place in Jammu region. Jammu, the state's winter capital, recorded 64 mm while Srinagar, the summer capital, registered 14.4 mm rainfall till 0830 hours.

There was no rainfall activity in Chandigarh but partially cloudy weather during the day provided relief to the people from hot climatic conditions. Haryana, too, had no rainfall.

The Met office predicted moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers at many palces in Himachal Pradesh and few places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours. It warned of heavy rain at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and north and north-eastern parts of Punjab and Haryana during the period.

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