Pre-monsoon showers lashed some parts of the State and capital Bhopal on Tuesday bringing down the mercury levels. The drizzle brought respite to the people in the midst of 'Navtapa' (a spell of nine hot days).

With the first showers, power failure for hours was reported in different parts of Bhopal.

"Such activities will continue till the onset of monsoon," India Meteorological Department's Bhopal Centre director Anupam Kashyapi said.

The monsoon usually arrives in the State in the second week of June.

The maximum temperature fell to 38.8 degrees Celsius in Bhopal on Tuesday from 39.6 degrees on Monday. The weather department has predicted that there are chances of thundery activity, duststorm, light rain in parts of the city during afternoon hours in next 24 hours.

Bhopal, Umaria, Seoni and Rajgarh districts had light rains, said IMD official Shailendra Kumar Nayak. Temperature dipped by a few degrees almost all over the State, he added.

The maximum and minimum temperature recorded in the major cities of the State was Indore 37.2 and 21.8, Gwalior 34.5 and 24.9, Jabalpur 36.3 and 23 and Khajuraho 36.1 and 24.2 degree Celsius. However, some cities continued to record temperatures of 40 degree and above including Rajgarh that recorded maximum of 40.5 and minimum of 27, Khandwa 41.1 and 25, Khargone 40 and 25.6, Narsinghpur 43 and 24 and Damoh 39 and 17.5 degree Celsius.

Thunder, light rainfall and duststorms may occur in some parts of the State in the next 24 hours, according to the weather forecast.

There are chances of thundery activity or light rain at a few places over Hoshangabad, Jabalpur (except Jabalpur and Katni districts) divisions and Khandwa, Burhanpur and Khargone districts. While there are likely chances of dust storm, thundery activity, light rain at isolated places over rest of the State.