Monsoon rain eludes region

Chandigarh, Sep 4 (UNI) Monsoon rain eluded most parts of north-west India providing respite from wet conditions and the temperature stayed low in the region today.

Except Kalpa in Himachal Pradesh and the capital town of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, which respectively recorded 0.1 mm and 21.1 mm downpour overnight, the region had no rains since last night, according to the Weather Office here.

However, monsoon clouds hovered at many places in the region during the day and the maximum temperature stayed one to three degrees Celsius below normal in Punjab and Haryana.

The Met Office said that light to moderate rain or thundershowers will occur at few places in Himachal Pradesh and isolated places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 48 hours.

In Punjab, the temperature dipped three degrees below normal at Ludhiana recording 30.8 degrees Celsius while Amritsar registered 32.0 degrees, two degrees down. Patiala reported the maximum at 33.5 degrees, one degree below normal.

The temperature also declined in Haryana where Karnal registered 31.5 degrees, two degrees below normal, and Ambala 32.9 degrees, one degree down.

However, the mercury hovered above normal in many areas of Himachal Pradesh with state capital Shimla recording 25.5 degrees, five degrees above normal. Bhuntar in Kullu district also recorded above normal temperature at 33.3 degrees Celsius.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana also had no rains. The city, drapped in clouds, recorded the maximum temperature at 33.8 degrees celsius which was one degree above normal.

UNI VKJ SHB PM1906