Mercury rises as rainfall sees decline in north

Temperatures rose by a few notches in northern India today as the region remained virtually dry in the absence of any significant showers.
Conditions were hot and humid in Delhi as the mercury rose by two notches above normal to settle at at 35.9 degrees Celsius.
Humidity in air fluctuated between 50 and 79 per cent while the minimum in the national capital was recorded at 27 degrees, a notch above normal.
In Uttar Pradesh, although rainfall was restricted to isolated areas, the flood situation remained grim, especially in the eastern parts of the state where major rivers continued to be in spate.

The local MeT office said that Gorakhpur received 50mm rainfall followed by Fatehpur (40mm) and Sultanpur, Basti, Kakrahi, Ghazipur, Basti and Bahraich (20mm) each.
According to the relief commissioner's office here, so far a total of 289 people have been killed in tragedies caused by the heavy monsoon in the state.

A total of 1,291 villages in 35 tehsils of the state have been hit by floods, it was learnt.
Major rivers like Ganga, Ram Ganga, Yamuna, Gomti, Sai, Rapti and Rohin were on the rise at different places.
Punjab and Haryana, meanwhile, complained of sultry weather with temperatures rising across the two neighbouring states, both of which remained without rainfall today.

Union Territory and common capital Chandigarh recorded a high of 34.1 degrees while Amritsar in Punjab saw the mercury settling at 35.6 degrees.
Ludhiana and Patiala registered maximums of 34.4 and 35.6 degrees, respectively.
In Haryana, Bhiwani recorded a high of 36.6 degrees followed by Hisar with 36 degrees.