Light showers bring relief for farmers of Punjab, Haryana

Chandigarh, Dec 26 (UNI) Western disturbances over Pakistan resulted in light morning showers to break the two-week long dry spell and bring relief to the farmers in the wheat belt of Punjab and Haryana.

The higher reaches of the tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh had a fresh spell of snowfall, while icy cold winds swept across the lower and mid hills of the state.

The Union Territory of Chandigarh had little of rain in the morning, but as the day progressed, the sun broke through the clouds to bring relief to the residents. Night temperatures in the city rose to 8.0 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal.

The met office reported light rain across Punjab, with Patiala recording 2.4 mm of rain, Ludhiana 1.4 mm and Amritsar 0.8 mm this morning. However despite the showers, the minimum temperature was two to five degrees above normal in the state, even as the sun broke through the clouds as the day progressed.

The minimum temperature in Amritsar rose by three degrees from yesterday, to 8.4 degrees, two degrees above normal. In Ludhiana also the mercury rose to 10.8 degrees, five degrees above normal.

The mercury in Patiala also went upto 8.5 degrees, two degrees above normal.

Light showers were reported from various places in Haryana where the minimum temperatures were two to six degrees above normal.

Ambala had 0.7 mm rain, Hisar reported 0.4, while Rohtak, Jagadhri and Karnal had traces of rain.

The minimum at Hisar shot up by five degrees from yesterday and was recorded at 12.3 degrees, six degrees above normal. Ambala registered a minimum of 7.5 degrees, while at Karnal the minimum went upto 10.4 degrees, two degrees above normal.

The capital hill resort of Shimla continued to be in the grip of a cold wave, registering a minumum of 5.7 degrees. Bhuntar in Kullu district was cold at 0.4 degrees while Sundernagar again shivered at 1.6 degrees.

In the tribal areas of Himachal, the minimum hovered below freezing point. Kalpa in Kinnaur district had a fresh speel of snowfall and the minumum was minus 1.8 degrees. The Kangra and Kullu valleys are also in the grip of an intense cold wave.

With the western disturbances gaining strengthened, the met office has warned the farmers of Haryana and Punjab of a hail storm lashing parts of the two state, with winds blowing across the wheat belt at a speed of 40 km an hour in the next 24 hours. Rain or snow is expected in Himachal Pradesh.

UNI HS RR DS1536