Lightning claims life of one in Punjab

Chandigarh, Jun 1 (UNI) Lightning claimed life of a person in Punjab while mercury dropped at most places across north west region today.

The maximum temperature hovered five degrees to nine degrees Celsius below normal in the plains of Punjab and Haryana following rains at isolated places in the region.

One person, identified as Rulda Singh, was charred to death and another was injured after lightning struck them at Bugga village, near Amloh town, in Fatehgarh Sahib district of Punjab this morning. The injured was rushed to Civil Hosptial, Amloh.

With this death, the toll due to lightning rose to two in Punjab and Haryana during the summer so far.

In Punjab, shorching heat prevailed at Amritsar although mercury declined in the holy city recording the maximum at 40.1 degrees celsius. The mercury drastically fell at Patiala to 31.8 degrees, nine degrees below normal, following rain.

The maximum temperatues also plummeted in Haryana, staying four degrees to seven degrees below normal. Ambala, where the mercury rose to 40.6 degrees yesterday, recorded a steep fall in the maximum temperature, showing 32.9 degrees celsius, seven degrees below normal while Hissar registered 36.7 degrees and Karnal 34.8 degrees, five degrees below normal.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas also recorded a sharp fall in the temperature to 34.4 degrees, five degrees below normal, in the wake of rainfall.

Temperatures also dropped in Himachal Pradesh where isolated places experienced rain. The maximum temperatures fell to 35.6 degrees at Una, 32.9 degrees at Sundernagar, 32.8 degrees at Bhuntar and 22.5 degrees at Shimla.

The weather office has predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers at few places in Himachal Pradesh and duststorms or thunderstorms with light to moderate rain at few places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours. Hailstorms or thundersqualls with speed exceeding 45 km per hour is likely to occur at isolated places in the region during the period.

UNI VKJ SP VC2100