Heat wave continues unabated in Punjab, Haryana

Chandigarh, Apr 26 (UNI) The heat wave continued unabated in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh as the mercury further rose at most places in the region today.

People groaned under scorching heat wave conditions as hot surface winds blew across the region.

While the heat wave conditions abated from Himachal Pradesh, they prevailed in isolated pockets of Punjab and Haryana, including Chandigarh, and were likely to continue for the next two days, according to the Weather office here..

The maximum temperatures in the region showed increase by few notches at Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Ambala, Karnal, Bhivani, Dharamsala, Mandi, Una and Chandigarh while they declined at Bhuntar and Sundernagar.

Hisar with 43.2 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal, continued to be the hottest place in Haryana. Ambala recorded the maximum temperature at 40.4 degrees and Karnal 40.6 degrees, fpur degrees above normal.

The mercury settled at 41.6 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal at Patiala, turning the town as the hottest place in Punjab.

Ludhiana and Amritsar showed 40.6 degrees Celsius each which were five degrees above normal.

People in Chandigarh and its adjoining areas also groaned under heat wave conditions with the mercury touching 40.6 degrees Celsius.

Hot winds swept across the city during the day.

The mercury hovered above normal in Himachal Pradesh as Una in lower hills recorded the maximum at 39.6 degrees, Mandi 35.0 degrees, Sundernagar 34.2 degrees, Bhuntar 30.0 degrees, Dharamsala 31.0 degrees and Shimla 25.1 degrees Celsius.

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

UNI VKJ SP HS1919