Thunderstorm, squall hit Shimla, surrounding areas

A thunderstorm and squall hit the state capital and its surrounding areas this evening, disrupting normal life and leading to sharp fall in temperatures.
The storm blew off roofs of kaccha houses and uprooted trees at some places.
Rains provided relief from heat. Manali and Bhuntar received 3.6 mm and 2 mm rains respectively.
The mercury dropped by 3.6 notches in Una and settled at 39 degrees Celsius.
The lower hills had a relief from the scorching heat with Sundernagar recording a maximum temperature of 36.9 degrees Celsius, followed by 36.1 degrees Celsius in Nahan, 33.4 degrees Celsius in Bhuntar, 33.2 degrees Celsius in Solan, 30.6 degrees Celsius in Dharamsala and 28.3 degrees Celsius in Shimla.

However, night temperatures remained above normal and Dharamsala was the hottest during the night recording a minimum temperature of 23.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Una 23.6 degrees Celsius, Nahan 22.6 degrees Celsius, Palampur 19.4 degrees Celsius and Shimla 17.2 degrees Celsius.
The local MeT office has predicted rains or thundershowers in mid hills, and rains and snowfall at isolated places in the higher hills over the next five days from tomorrow.