Rains lash parts of Punjab, Haryana; mercury drops

Light to moderate rains lashed a few parts of Punjab and Haryana, including Chandigarh, today following which the maximum temperature registered a sharp fall.

Chandigarh received rains in the afternoon and the maximum temperature here settled at 34.5 degrees Celsius, down four notches against normal, the Meteorological (MeT) Department report said.

Among other places to be lashed by rains in the two states included Ambala, Panchkula, Mohali and Patiala.

Ambala in Haryana recorded a maximum temperature of 34.7 degrees Celsius, down three notches against normal limits, while Bhiwani registered a high of 33.9 degrees Celsius.

Hisar recorded a high of 36.3 degrees Celsius, four below normal.

Karnal's maximum settled at 34.6 degrees Celsius, down three degrees, while Narnaul recorded a high of 33.3 degrees Celsius, seven notches below normal.

In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a maximum temperature of 32.4 degrees Celsius, six notches below normal limits.

Ludhiana recorded a high of 33.8 degrees Celsius, down four degrees, while Patiala registered a maximum of 35.4 degrees Celsius, two below normal limits.

In view of the MeT Department issuing an alert forecasting that several parts of north India could witness thunderstorm and squall today, the Haryana government had cancelled leave of all officers and officials in municipalities across the state today.

Meanwhile, the MeT has forecast that thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds are likely at isolated places until tomorrow in Haryana and Punjab.