Rains let lose chill in UP

Lucknow, Feb 13 (UNI) Heavy rainfall accompanied by hailstorm was witnessed in the Uttar Pradesh capital this afternoon.

Cold conditions, following continuous thundershowers in the state capital since Saturday, left Lucknowites shivering for the third consecutive day.

The Sun gradually disappeared after giving some respite.

The weatherman has attributed the change in weather to the western disturbances and snowfall in Uttarakhand, while they have also held out the possibility of more rainfall in the coming days.

In the last 24 hrs, rainfall occurred in Allahabad, Jhansi, Varanasi, Faizabad, Kanpur and Agra divisions.

Agra turned out to be the wettest place in UP recording 3.5 mm rainfall. Although mercury continued to be above normal.

Kanpur at 11.1 degrees Celsius was the coldest place in UP. The state capital recorded 11.6 degree C, which was 3 degrees above normal.

Rainfall has also affected the schedule of trains. All major trains, including Neelanchal Express and Kashi Vishwanath Express were running late.

A report from Mahoba said farmers have suffered heavy losses due to unseasonal rains. Demanding compensation, farmers today stopped a passenger train for two hrs in the Allahabad-Jhansi division. The train was allowed to leave only after senior officials reached the spot.

Heavy cloud, indicating the possibility of rainfall, enveloped the skyline. Life in UP has been thrown out of gear for almost 48 hrs as the rainfall continued to lash in short spells, a report from Allahabad said.

Meanwhile, weatherman have forecast rainfall accompanied by thundershowers and squall in the last 24 hrs.

UNI