Drastic fall in mercury due to pre-monsoon rain in region

Chandigarh, June 15 (UNI) People in north-west India had a respite from the scorching heat following the drastic fall in the mercury as moderate to heavy pre-monsoon rains lashed most parts of the region during the past 24 hours.

The maximum temperature fell by 12 degrees in Punjab, four degrees to 11 degrees in Haryana and four degrees to eight degrees in Himachal Pradesh.

The Met Office attributed the sudden fall in the temperatures to upper air cyclonic circulation over north Rajasthan and neighbourhood which extends upto 1.5 km above sea level. A fresh upper air cyclonic circulation also lay over central parts of Uttar Pradesh, extending upto 1.5 km above sea level.

In Punjab, the temperatures dipped sharply following rains with Amritsar and Ludhiana recording 28 degrees and 29.1 degrees, 12 degrees below normal. Patiala registered 30.1 degrees Celsius which was ten degrees below normal.

The temperature also declined in Haryana. Hissar, which usually turns out to be the hottest place in the state, registered the maximum at 37.4 degrees Celsius, four degrees below normal, while Ambala recorded 30.5 degrees, eight degrees below normal, and Karnal showed 29.5 degrees which was 11 degrees down.

The mercury also hovered below normal at Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana. The city recorded 27.8 degrees celsius, 11 degrees below normal.

The temperatures also plummeted below normal in Himachal Pradesh in the wake of heavy rainfall. The mercury hovered eight degrees below normal at Bhuntar in Kullu disrict, recording 25.3 degrees while Sundernagar in Mandi district registered 26.8 degrees and Kalpa in Kinnaur district showed 17.3 degrees. The capital town of Shimla recorded 20.3 degrees celsius, four degrees below normal.

The Met Office has predicted moderate to rather heavy rainfall or thundershowers at many places in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and light to moderate rain or thundershowers at few places in Haryana during the next 24 hours. Thundersqualls with speeds exceeding 45 km per hour are likely to occur at isolated places in the region.

UNI