Two killed in windstorm in Ambala

Chandigarh, Sep 6 (UNI) Two people were killed in a windstorm in Ambala while higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh experienced snowfall and several areas in North-West India had a moderate rain as monsoon remained vigorous in the hilly state and active in Punjab since yesterday night.

A powerful tornado hit the Ambala district of Haryana yesterday night, claiming lives of two people and injuring two others, uprooting trees, snapping power wires and disrupting traffic on the national highways and Ambala-Ludhiana railway line for about an hour.

The deceased were identified as Sukh Ram Bahrdwaj and Balia, both migratory labourers from Bihar. They were travelling on their bicycles and were buried under the uprooted trees at Ambala City and Shaehzadpur. One person was injured in a house collapse at Mochi Mandi the Cantonment area and another, a motorcyclist, at Ambala City.

Rain lashed several areas in Punjab overnight with Nangal Dam site receiving 36.4 mm rainfall. Ludhiana recorded 20.2 mm, Amritsar 11.4 mm and Patiala 7.3 mm rainfall till this morning.

Some areas in Haryana also experienced moderate rain with Nilokheri recording 14.4 mm downpour till this morning, followed by Rohtak registering 8.3 mm and Ambala 5.3 mm. Hissar and Bhivani reported trace rainfall.

High altitude areas in tribal districts of Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur and Bharmour and Pangi areas in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh had another snowfall since last night while moderate to heavy rain lashed many areas, including mid and lower hills, triggering fresh landslides in the state.

Some areas in Kangra, Mandi, Una and Solan districts reported heavy rainfall. All rivers, including the Beas, Sutlej and the Ravi and their tributaries flowing through the state were in spate.

Heavy rain pounded Shimla and its adjoining areas with the capital town recording 29.6 mm downpour overnight. Upper areas of Shimla district, including tourist places of Wildflower Hall, Kufri, Naldehra and Narkanda, also had rainfall forcing tourists to stay indoors.

Berthin recorded 53.0 mm, Kasol 41.5 mm, Una 41.2 mm, Sundernagar 35.6 mm, Solan 35.2 mm, Dharamsala 32.8 mm, Rampur 31.0 mm, Naudan 22.4 mm, Nahan 21.7 mm and Gamroor 20.4 mm. Sujanpur Tira, Guler, Pandoh, Suni, Kahu and Nagrota Surian areas also experienced rainfall.

Intermittent rain lashed Chandigarh and its adjoining areas overnight, dipping the temperature. The city received 25.0 mm rain overnight.

The Met Office predicted moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers at most places in Himachal Pradesh and many places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours. It warned of heavy rain at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and northeast Haryana during the next 48 hours.

UNI VKJ JT CS2041