Heavy rains continued to lash the region on Monday even as the minimum temperatures rose by few notches above normal in most parts of Punjab and Haryana. Accompanied by strong winds and thunder, rains lashed Chandigarh and parts of Punjab and Haryana in last 24 hours.
According to the Met Department, Amritsar in Punjab received heavy rainfall of 77 mm till Monday morning, Patiala recorded 63.9 mm rains, ludhiana 41.5 mm. In Haryana, Karnal recorded 97.4 mm rain, Ambala received 72.6 mm, Bhiwani 23.8 mm, Narnaul 15 mm and Hissar 35.4 mm in past 24 hours.
Chandigarh, the joint Capital of Punjab and Haryana, received 64.4 mm rainfall till Monday morning and 4.3 mm till the evening. The city recorded highest one day rainfall after seven years. The previous one day highest rainfall of 90.2 mm in March was recorded in 2007.
The Met Department has forecast light to moderate rain at most places in next 24 hours in Punjab and Haryana. Hail storms with wind speed exceeding 45 kmph may occur at isolated places in next 24 hours.
Agriculture scientists have said that though rains are beneficial for wheat crop but showers along with strong winds could flatten it and could cause lodging in the fields which is harmful for the crop.
Meanwhile, with heavy rainfall lashing many parts of the region, the maximum temperature levels have plunged upto 10 notches below normal while minimum temperature remained above normal.
Punjab's holy —Amritsar settled at a minimum temperature of 9.4 degrees Celsius. ludhiana and Patiala recorded respective minimum temperatures at 13.1 degrees and 13 degrees Celsius.
Chandigarh recorded minimum temperature at 13.4 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal and maximum temperature at 17 degrees Celsius, nine notches below normal while in Haryana, Ambala recorded minimum temperature at 14.6 degrees Celsius, Bhiwani at 14.4 degrees, Hissar at 14.1 degrees Celsius, Karnal at 13.2 degrees Celsius and Narnual recorded 12.5 degrees Celsius.
The maximum temperature recorded was 20.5 degrees in Narnual, 15.8 degrees in Ambala, 20.5 degrees in Hissar, 22.4 degrees in Bhiwani, 18.8 degrees in Amritsar, 19 degrees in ludhiana and 17.5 degree Celsius in Patiala.
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