Rains continue to lash Punjab, Haryana

Rains today continued to lash parts of Punjab and Haryana, with mercury dropping a few notches below the normal level in the region.
While vast swathes of the states including Chandigarh received heavy downpour yesterday, inclement weather prevailed in the region today as well.
Sky was overcast in Chandigarh this morning after the city received heavy rainfall. Pools of water had collected at several roundabouts in the city.
After the downpour, mercury hovered a few notches below normal, the local MeT office said.
The MeT has forecast moderate to heavy rains in most parts of Punjab and Haryana until tomorrow.

Notably, both the states had received scanty rains during the June-August period and the recent downpour is likely to bring cheer to the farmers.

It will also help ease the power situation to some extent as the demand had soared in view of the prolonged dry weather conditions earlier.
Facing a deficit of 65 per cent of monsoon rains this year, the Haryana government had on September 2 declared the state as drought-affected, ordered a special survey to assess the loss caused due to dry spell and sought a special package of Rs 4,829.75 crore from the centre.
Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh faced a rainfall deficit of 65 per cent each between the June 1-August 31 period this year, according to local MeT Department.