Mercury dips in region following rain in HP

Chandigarh, May 24 (UNI) Mercury dipped at most places in the northwest India today following moderate to heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh overnight, providing respite to people from rising temperatures in the region.

The rain also lashed isolated areas in the plains which brought down the mercury by two degrees to nine degrees celsius below normal in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh Union Territory.

In Punjab, the maximum temperatures further declined with Patiala recording 31.7 degrees, nine degrees below normal, while the holy city of Amritsar registered 37.0 degrees, two degrees below normal.

Nangal Dam area was lashed by rain.

The maximum also dipped in Haryana and Karnal recorded 30.6 degrees, nine degrees below normal, while Ambala showed 32.6 degrees, seven degrees below normal.

Moderate to heavy rain pounded Himachal Pradesh last night, plummeting the temperatures in the state. The maximum temperature settled at 29.4 degrees at Bhuntar, 26.2 degrees at Dharamsala, 28.4 degrees at Sundernagar and 20.4 degrees at Shimla. Suni was the wettest place in the state measuring 110.4 mm rainfall till this morning, followed by Dharamsala recording 53.6 mm, Naudan 53.0 mm, Mandi 42.3 mm, Guler 42.0 mm, Sujanpur Tira 29.2 mm and Nagrota Surian 26.5 mm downpour. Pandoh, Rampur, Gamroor and Berthin areas also experienced moderate rain.

People in Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana heaved a sigh of relief from the rising temperature. The city which had trace rainfall, recorded the maximum temperature at 33.2 degrees, six degrees below normal.

The Weather Office here predicted moderate to heavy rain or thundershowers at many places in Himachal Pradesh and light to moderate rain or thundershowers at few areas in Haryana and Punjab during the next 24 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 BP1859