Mercury rises in North-West region

Chandigarh, May 29 (UNI) Mercury again soared in the north-west India but stayed below normal at many places in the region today.

People groaned under intensified heat at Hisar with the mercury touching 40.5 degrees Celsius, turning it the hottest place in Haryana. Ambala registered 38.4 degrees and Karnal 39.0 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal.

The mercury also showed upward movement in Punjab, registering 38.9 degrees, two degrees below normal, at Patiala. The maximum hovered below normal by four degrees at Ludhiana and three degrees at Amritsar, respectively recording 37.5 degrees and 37.2 degrees Celsius.

The mercury also rose at Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana. The city recorded 38.0 degrees which was one degree below normal.

Despite a snowfall and rains in Himachal Pradesh yesterday, the temperatures showed a rising trend in the hilly state. Una with 36.0 degrees Celsius was the hottest place in Himachal Pradesh. The maximum settled at 33.9 degrees Celsius at Sundernagar in Mandi district, 31.7 degrees at Bhuntar in Kullu disrict and 20.0 degrees at Kalpa in tribal Kinnaur district.

The capital town of Shimla, lashed by rains, recorded 22.6 degrees Celsius which was one degree below normal.

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

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

UNI