Rain, hailstorm hit UP

Heavy rain and a hailstorm hit the Uttar Pradesh capital and others parts of the state Tuesday evening, ushering in a drop in the mercury level.

While dark clouds were hovering since afternoon, the skies opened up late evening.

The Met department blamed "western disturbance" - an extra-tropical storm originating over the over the Mediterranean Sea that brings sudden rain - for the change in weather and said it will be "more or less" the same Wednesday.

Heavy rain was reported from most parts of Poorvanchal region (or eastern Uttar Pradesh) including Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Mau and Ballia.

While the rain brought down the temperature, the hailstorm hit crops in many places.

A state government official said an assessment of the crop damage will be done Wednesday and if necessary, compensation would be announced for the affected farmers.