Avalanche claims 5 in J&K; mercury upward in Odisha

Five persons were killed and seven others injured when an avalanche hit a minibus on the Bhaderwah-Basholi Highwayin Jammu and Kashmir on the day the mercury crossed 40-degree mark at at least 15 places in Odisha.
The national capital witnessed another sunny day today but the mercury settled at normal level recording a maximum of 39 degrees Celsius.
"The minimum settled at 23.2 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal," a MeT department official in Delhi said.
The city also received 1.8 mm rainfall overnight but there was no rain during the day. The weatherman has predicted a clear day tomorrow with the possibility of mercury touching 40-degree mark.

Five persons were killed and several others injured when a minibus was hit by an avalanche on the Bhaderwah- Basholi Highwayin Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district.
The avalanche hit the vehicle on its way to Bhaderwah from Bani and it rolled down into a 1500-feet gorge, according to BRO workers clearing the snow and debris near Chattar Gali pass, 38 kms from Bhaderwah. The bus was carrying 12 people.

In most parts of Odisha, heatwave condition intensified as Titlagarh remained the hottest place at 44 degrees Celsius.
The whole of western Odisha and some other areas sizzled in the gruelling heat as the mercury breached the 40-degree mark in at least 15 places.

In Punjab and Haryana, there was some relief from heat conditions as the maximum temperatures remained below normal limits in most parts of the two states.
Hisar was the hottest place in the two states with a maximum temperature of 39.9 degrees Celsius, a notch below normal.
The weatherman has predicted the possibility of light rains or thundershowers at isolated places in the two states for tomorrow.
The weather remained mainly dry in Bihar with Gaya being the hottest place at 41.6 degrees Celsius, one notch above normal. Patna recorded 39 degree Celsius temperature against yesterday's 40.4
The Met office has forecast partly cloudy sky for Patna, Gaya and Purnea tomorrow, while Bhagalpur is expected to witness partly cloudy sky with the possibility of rain or thundershower.

An IMD bulletin said thunderstorm occurred at isolated places over Uttarakhand and North interior Karnataka from 08:30 hours.
In Uttar Pradesh, Banda was the hottest place where the mercury touched a high of 43 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature in Agra and Allahabad were 41.6 degrees Celsius each.
Barmer was the hottest place in Rajasthan at a maximum of 44.3 degrees Celsius followed by Jaisalmer at 42.6 degrees, both near normal levels.