Rain lashes isolated places in Punjab, HP

Chandigarh, Aug 9 (UNI) A 117-year old bridge collapsed as rain lashed isolated areas in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh but eluded Haryana since last night.

The bridge over the Chakki river on the Pathankot-Dharamshala- Manali highway caved in early today due to the sudden rise in its water level following heavy rains in the catchment area of the Ravi river in adjoining Himachal Pradesh.

Road traffic to Himachal Pradesh from Pathankot was suspended, a report from Pathankot said.

Moderate to heavy rain pounded isolated places in Punjab overnight with Shahpur Kandi recording 97.0 mm rainfall while Ranjit Sagar Dam site measured 37.2 mm downpour. Balachour received 1.4 mm rain.

Despite monsoon clouds hovering at certain places in Haryana, rains eluded the state, leading to hot and humid weather conditions.

Monsoon rain lashed few areas in Himachal Pradesh with Pandoh turning the wettest place in the state, recording 27.0 mm downpour, followed by Mandi registering 22.0 mm rainfall till this morning.

Sundernagar, Gamroor and Nagrota Surian also received a moderate rain.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas were also lashed by showers last night. The city received 7.8 mm rainfall.

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

UNI