Hissar records 44.5 degrees celsius

Chandigarh, May 18 (UNI) Blistering heat wave lashed Hissar as the mercury soared in the plains of Haryana and Punjab today.

Hissar, recording 44.5 degrees celsius, three degrees above normal, turned out to be the hottest place in Haryana. The heat wave conditions forced the people to stay indoors during the day.

However, the town was lashed by showers in the evening which provided respite to the people from the heat wave.

Elsewhere in the region, the mercury showed upward movement and stayed two degrees above normal at most places. The temperature settled at 39.8 degrees at Ambala and 39 degrees at Karnal.

In Punjab, Amritsar was the hottest place with the maximum rising to 41.2 degrees, two degrees above normal. The temperature also hovered above normal at Ludhiana recording 41.0 degrees while Patiala showed 40.1 degrees celsius.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana were also facing hot weather conditions with the mercury touching 38.4 degrees in the city.

In Himachal Pradesh, Una was the hottest place, registering 40.0 degrees celsius. The maximum settled at 34.9 degrees at Sundernagar in Mandi district, 33.0 degrees at Bhuntar in Kullu disrict and 23.5 degrees at Kalpa in tribal Kinnaur district. The capital town of Shimla recorded 24.5 degrees celsius which was two degrees celsius above normal.

The Met office has predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers at few places in Himachal Pradesh and isolated places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours.

Hailstorm or thundersquall with speed exceeding 45 km pr hour is likely to occur at isolated places in the region.

UNI