Moderate to heavy rains lash Punjab, Haryana; day temperatures dip

Moderate to heavy rains lashed several parts of Punjab and Haryana on Friday, causing the day temperatures to dip, a meteorological department official said.

The maximum temperatures dropped several notches as the rains continued through the day at most places. The minimum temperatures, however, hovered 4-7 degrees Celsius above normal.

Chandigarh, which is the joint capital of the two states, was also lashed by heavy rains, with the maximum temperature settling at 19.2 degrees Celsius -- three notches below normal.

The bad weather conditions also led to flight delays at the Chandigarh airport.

The maximum temperature in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Hisar and Karnal was recorded within the range of 14-17 degrees Celsius -- five to eight notches below normal.

There were reports of hailstorms and heavy rains lashing few places in Haryana, including Nuh, Palwal, Charkhi Dadri, Bhiwani and Jhajjar.

Crops were damaged in these places.

To assess the extent of crop damage, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar ordered a 'special girdwari' (revenue survey to assess losses), a Haryana government statement said here.

According to the weather department, heavy fog is likely at a few places in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday.