Widespread rains in Punjab and Haryana

Meanwhile, Gulmarg in Kashmir received 48 cm snowfalluntil early today, according to the Snow and Avalanche StudyEstablishment (SASE) here.

Other places in Jammu and Kashmir which received fresh aspell of snow include Dras (5 cm) and Kanzalwan (37 cm).

According to SASE, very light to light snowfall isexpected in Himachal Pradesh, J and K and Uttarakhand untiltomorrow.

Avalanche warning remains in place for the next 24 hoursstarting from 5 pm today at snowbound areas above 2,500 maltitude of Lahaul and Spiti, Shimla, Kinnaur, Chamba andKullu districts of Himachal Pradesh and Anantnag, Banihal,Kishtwar, Pulwama, Gulmarg, Naugam, Baramulla, Uri, Kupwara,Tangdhar, Keran, Machal, Bandipur and Sonamarg sector of J andK, SASE said.

People have been advised not to venture in steepavalanche-prone slopes until 5 pm tomorrow.

Chandigarh, Feb 26 (PTI) Rains lashed most parts ofPunjab and Haryana today with the minimum temperatureremaining close to normal.

Patiala in Punjab witnessed maximum rainfall with 11.6mmwhile Rohtak, Gurgaon and Karnal in Haryana had a downpour of10.2 mm, 10mm and 9mm respectively.

Chandigarh and Mohali had a moderate rainfall whileBhiwani, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Ambala had below normalrainfall.

The MeT department here said that rains in the regionwere due to a western disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir andother neighbourhood areas.

The minimum temperature at Chandigarh was 11.2 degreesCelsius, a notch above normal.

Ambala recorded a low of 11.2 deg C, while the low atHisar was 10.6 deg C.

Gurgaon registered a minimum of 11 deg C, up two notches,while Rohtak recorded a low of 10.1 deg C.

In Punjab, Ludhiana registered a low of 10.6 deg C, upone notch while the low at Patiala settled at 9.8 deg C.

However, Amritsar experienced a cold night at 6 deg C,down two notches.