Rains bring respite from heat in some parts of country, death toll reaches 83 in Bihar

Light rains in parts of India kept the mercury in check on Tuesday, even though there was no let-up in heatwave conditions in several states, including Bihar, where the death toll reached 83.

Delhi witnessed a pleasant weather with intermittent rains and gusty winds.

According to the Safdarjung Observatory, which provides official figures for the city, the national capital recorded 10.6 mm rainfall over the past 24 hours, till 8.30 am on Tuesday, and a maximum temperature of 35 degrees Celsius -- four notches below normal.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a cloudy sky, light rains or thuderstorm accompanied by gusty winds (40 kmph) in the city on Wednesday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 36 and 20 degrees Celsius respectively.

The mercury is likely to remain below 40 degrees Celsius till June 22, it said.

Private forcaster Skymet Weather said a western disturbance lies over eastern parts of Jammu and Kashmir and a cyclonic circulation persists over Haryana and its adjoining areas. Humid winds from the Arabian Sea are pushing moisture to the northern plains of India, including Delhi-NCR.

Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa and Madhya Pradesh also received rains.

Many places in Himachal Pradesh received rainfall again on Tuesday, further lowering the maximum and minimum temperatures by two to five notches, the Shimla Meteorological Centre said.

Kahu and Gohar received 39 mm rain each, followed by 32 mm in Aghar, 28 mm in Dharamsala, 27 mm each in Bharari and Bhoranj, 25 mm in Ghumarwin and 17 mm in Gaggal, it said.

Una was the hottest place in the state with a maximum temperature of 34.6 degree Celsius, while Keylong recorded the lowest temperature of 6.2 degree Celsius.

Temperatures also dipped several notches below normal in Punjab and Haryana after parts of the states were lashed by rains.

In Haryana, Ambala recorded a maximum temperature of 31 degrees Celsius, down seven notches, after it received 22.7 mm of rain.

Bhiwani, which received 24.4 mm of rain, recorded a high of 33.2 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature in Hisar dropped nine notches below normal to settle at 32 degrees Celsius after the district received 12 mm of rain.

The holy city of Amritsar in Punjab recorded a maximum temperature of 32.3 degrees Celsius, six notches below normal, and Ludhiana registered a high of 31.7 degrees Celsius, also down by six notches.

Parts of Rajasthan received rainfall between 1 to 3 cms over the last 24 hours, the IMD said.

Dabok received the maximum rainfall at 21 mm, followed by 13.8 mm in Jaipur and 1.2 mm in Ajmer. Traces of rainfall were also recorded in Barmer and Churu.

Bikaner was the hottest place in the desert state with the mercury settling at 40.8 degrees Celsius.

Kota recorded a maximum temperature of 39.1 degrees Celsius, while Jaisalmer recorded a high of 38.7 degrees Celsius.

According to the weather department, light to moderate rains are likely at many places in the state on Wednesday.

Some parts of Gujarat received rains as Cyclone Vayu weakened and crossed the state's Kutch region. Rains are likely to continue till Wednesday in Kutch, Saurashtra and north Gujarat regions because of its impact, a weather department official said.

The weather in Goa was also pleasant as parts of the coastal state received light to moderate showers.

Rain or thundershowers are likely in some parts of the state over the next two days, the IMD said.

The weather department also advised fishermen not to venture into the Arabian Sea as the weather is likely to be rough.

Light pre-monsoon showers in western and central parts of Madhya Pradesh brought relief for residents from sultry heat, an official at the IMD centre in Bhopal said.

Monsoon is likely to reach the state by next week, but light showers occurred in Indore, Gwalior and Bhopal divisions and some other places over the last 24 hours, he said.

Because of the rains, the maximum temperature in most parts of the state dropped below the 40-degree mark, he added.

Meanwhile, the blistering heatwave persisted in Bihar, with at least 83 people dying over the last four days in three districts of the state.

An official of the Disaster Management Department Control Room in Patna said 35 people have died in Gaya, 34 in Aurangabad and 14 in Nawada due to heatwave in these districts since Saturday.

Major cities like Patna, Gaya and Bhagalpur in the state have been reeling under a heatwave for the past couple of days.

Patna, Gaya and Aurangabad recorded a maximum temperature of 41 degrees Celsius each, while the mercury settled at 39 degrees Celsius in Bhagalpur, the IMD said.

A heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature is recorded at 4.5 degrees Celsius or more above the normal for two consecutive days.

Uttar Pradesh also reeled under heatwave conditions.

Etawah was the hottest place in the state with a maximum temperature of 43.4 degrees Celsius, the IMD said.

The weather department has forecast rains or thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds and lightning at isolated places over eastern and western parts of the state on Wednesday.