Hot conditions in North-West, Gujarat heaves sign of relief

New Delhi, July 11 (UNI) Hot and humid conditions prevailed in the North-West as monsoon rain eluded most parts of the region today, while rain gods showed signs of relenting in Gujarat.

The toll in rain-affected Kheda district rose to four with one more death reported late last evening. Meanwhile, over 100 persons who were trapped in Santej village in Kheda town yesterday heaved a sigh of relief as the water level receded.

Fifteen villages in Tarapur and Khambat were still flooded but there has been no rains in the region since this morning. In both Kheda and Anand districts, food packets and water pouches were supplied to stranded people.

In the North-West, hot and humid conditions prevailed in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh Union Territory as monsoon rain eluded most parts of the region. Except few areas in the plains, the twin states of Punjab and Haryana had no rains since last night. Though monsoon clouds hovered at many places, but the maximum temperature stayed above normal at these places. Heavy rain pounded Nangal Dam site, turning it the wettest place in Punjab.

Minimum and maximum temperatures across Himachal Pradesh registered a marginal increase during the last 24 hrs with isolated places in the state receiving light showers. The day and night temperatures recorded an increase of one to three degrees in the state. Dry weather continued to prevail over the tribal districts of Kinnuar, Lahaul Spiti, Chamba and Kullu with partial cloud cover.

After two days of cool weather in Delhi, brought about by light rains on Monday, warm and humid weather conditions returned to the Capital city with the mercury shooting up to 37.6 Degree Celsius, two degrees above normal. Rains continued to elude Delhi, after a short burst of light rains on Monday.

Bihar too continued to witness dry spell with monsoon yet to arrive. Local Met office said the maximum temperature was recorded at 30.6 degrees Celsius, while the minimum was at 28.6 degrees. The humidity level was 82 per cent.

In Karnataka, following early onset of South West monsoon in the catchment areas of the river Cauvery, the water level in Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) is nearing full capacity. The monsoon was weak over North Interior Karnataka, while rainfall occurred at most places over Coastal Karnataka and at a few places over South Interior Karnataka.

South-West monsoon, meanwhile, has been subdued over Gangetic West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, west Rajasthan, east Madhya Pradesh, Saurashtra, Kutch, Marathwada, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and interior Karnataka.

Heavy rains are likely to occur at most places in coastal Karnataka, Kerala, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and at many places in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Gujarat, Konkan and Goa.

Rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at many places in Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Lakshadweep and at a few places in Gangetic West Bengal, south Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chattisgarh, Saurashtra, Kutch, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, coastal Andhra Pradesh, interior Karnataka and at isolated places in Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, north Rajasthan, Telangana, Rayalaseema and Tamil Nadu.

UNI