Cold wave sweeps as heavy rains lash Punjab & Haryana

Cold wave swept Punjab and Haryan with maximum temperature dropping sharply today as heavy rains lashed several parts of both states including Chandigarh even as medium danger avalanche warning was issued for avalanche prone areas in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
Icy cold winds swept Chandigarh, with maximum temperature dropping by over eight degrees to settle close to 13 degrees Celsius today even as heavy rains poured and the city received 100 mm of rainfall since 5.30 pm yesterday, MeT officials said.
Several places in Punjab and Haryana were also lashed by moderate to heavy rains, with maximum temperature dropping sharply and settling in the range of 13-16 degrees Celsius at most places.

The MeT official said two weather systems -- a Western Disturbance over over north Pakistan adjoining Jammu and Kashmir and an Upper Air Cyclonic Circulation over south Haryana and neighbourhood were active -- which would bring more rains at many places in Punjab and Haryana until tomorrow.
Chandigarh-based Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) issued medium danger avalanche warning valid for the next 24 hours starting at 5 p.M. Today.
A SASE advisory said medium danger avalanche warning exists for avalanche prone areas in Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Doda, Poonch and Reasi districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

Medium danger avalanche warning for the same period has also been issued for prone areas of Chamba, Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh.

"People are advised not to venture in avalanche prone areas during the warning period," it said.
It further said that heavy snowfall had occurred at many places in J&K and H.P. Since yesterday.
Banihal Top (26 cm), Gulmarg (82 cm) Drass (8 cm) in J&K and Bahang (44 cm), Solang Nala (61 cm) and Dhundi (97 cm) in Himachal Pradesh had received fresh snowfall.
Moderate to heavy rains lashed several places in Punjab and Haryana.
Ludhiana, Patiala, Mohali, Barnala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Garhshankar, Mukerian, Mansa, Pathankot, Anandpur Sahib, Ropar and Sangrur were among other places to be lashed by rains in Punjab.

Ambala, Hisar, Karnal, Bahadurgarh, Panchkula, Jind, Kaithal and Panipat in Haryana were also lashed by rain in Haryana.