Mercury soars in region

Chandigarh, June 21 (UNI) The mercury soared in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh Union Territory today but hovered below normal.

The maximum temperatrures stayed below normal by three degrees to four degrees in Punjab, four degrees to eight degrees in Haryana and one degree in Himachal Pradesh.

Amritsar with 36.6 degrees celsius, three degrees below normal, turned out to be the hottest place in Punjab. The maximum also rose at Patiala and Ludhiana but hovered four degrees below normal at these places, respectively recording 35.6 degrees and 35.8 degrees celsius.

The temperatures also rose in Haryana with Ambala recording 34.8 degrees celsius, four degrees below normal. Hissar, which was lashed by rain overnight, registered the maximum at 35.3 degrees celsius, six degrees below normal. The town recorded 5.3 mm rain till this morning. However, the temperature remained static at 31.2 degrees at Karnal, which was eight degrees below normal.

The mercury also increased at Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana. The city recorded 37.0 degrees celsius, two degrees below normal.

Parts of Himachal Pradesh also reported increase in the mercury with Una recording 37.2 degrees and Bhuntar in Kullu disrict 34.0 degrees celsius. Sundernagar in Mandi district registered 33.0 degrees and Kalpa in Kinnaur district 24.9 degrees celsius.

The capital town of Shimla, which was lashed by intermittent rain since last night, recorded 23.5 degrees celsius, one degree below normal.

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

UNI