Snow in HP, rains in Punjab, Haryana

Chandigarh, Apr 3 (UNI) High altitude areas in Himachal Pradesh experienced snowfall while isolated areas of the state and plains of Punjab and Haryana had rains overnight, bringing a fall in the temperature in the region.

The sky remained partially cloudy at most places as the Sun played hide and seek during the day.

Though rain provided relief to the people from rising temperatures, the downpour is considered harmful for standing wheat and mustard crops.

Several areas in Haryana, including Ambala and Hissar, were lashed by rain overnight. Karnal was the wettest place in the state, recording 5.0 mm downpour, followed by Narnaul registering 4.0 mm till this morning.

A windstorm, followed by rain, lashed Hissar and the adjoining areas, damaging wheat and mustard crops.

Isolated places in Punjab also had downpour with Ludhiana reporting moderate rainfall. The town received 11.2 mm rain till 0830 hours. Patiala and Amritsar, too, had rains.

High altitude areas in the tribal districts of Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur and Kullu and Chamba districts of Himachal Pradesh experienced a fresh snowfall bringing a considerable fall in the temperature in the hilly state. The 13050-foot high Rohtang Pass, gateway to Lahaul Spiti district, also experienced snowfall.

Intermittent rain also lashed Shimla and its adjoining areas and the capital town recorded 2.3 mm downpour till this morning. Cold winds swept across the town.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas experienced partially cloudy weather during the day following intermittent rain overnight and in the early hours.

The Met office attributed the change in weather to Western Disturbance lying over Jammu and Kashmir and North Pakistan. Another Western Disturbance lay over Afghanistan while Upper Air Cyclonic Circulation lay over Central Pakistan and adjoining Rajasthan and extended upto 2.1 km above sea level.

The Weather Office predicted light to moderate rain or snow at many places in Himachal Pradesh and rain or thundershowers at many places in Haryana and Punjab during the next 48 hours.

Hailstorm or thundersquall with speed exceeding 45 km per hour is likely to occur at isolated places in the region during the period.

UNI VKJ SYU RAI1910