South-west monsoon advances in Punjab and Haryana

Chandigarh, June 28 (UNI) Rain lashed many areas in north-west India as south-west monsoon further advanced into some more parts of Punjab and Haryana today.

The rains kept the temperature four to seven degrees celsius below normal in the plains, providing the much-needed relief to people from sizzling heat.

Moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at many places in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours, according to the Weather Office here. It warned of heavy rain at isolated places in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh during the next 48 hours.

Several areas in Punjab were lashed by rain since last night.

Ludhiana was pounded by moderate rain during the day, which dipped the temperature to 33.8 degrees, six degrees below normal.

Ludhiana recorded 35 mm, Madopur 30 mm, Ranjit Sagar dam site 40.4 mm and Shahpurkandi 43.0 mm rainfall. Amritsar reported trace rainfall during the day.

The mercury plummeted at Amritsar and Patiala, recording 34.6 degrees and 33.6 degrees celsius respectively.

Certain areas in Haryana, including Hissar and Karnal, also had rainfall. Narnaul recorded 59.0 mm downpour till this morning.

The mercury dipped seven degrees below normal at Ambala recording 31.1 degrees. Hissar registered 35.2 degrees and Karnal 32.6 degrees which were five degrees below normal.

Several areas in Himachal Pradesh, including Guler, Dharamsala, Barthin, Sujanpur Tira, Naudan, Nagrota Surian and Gamroor, also experienced rain. Shimla and tourist resorts of Wildflower Hall, Kufri, Naldehra and Narkanda also reported rainfall.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas were lashed by showers, plummeting the temperature to 30.6 degrees, seven degrees below normal. The city measured eight mm rinfall during the day.

UNI