The mercury continued to plunge below normal levels in the region with rainfall lashing some parts of Punjab and Haryana in the past 24 hours. According to the local Meteorological Department, the temperature levels settled upto six notches below normal in various parts of the two States. Both minimum and maximum temperature levels have dropped below normal in the past 24 hours.
Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana recorded minimum temperature at 8.2 degree Celsius, three notches below normal while maximum settled at 21 degrees, down by five notches from normal level. In Punjab, the rains lashed Madhopur (8 mm), Ranjit Sagar Dam (7.6 mm), Tipri (5 mm), Patiala (3.8 mm) and Nangal (3.5 mm) while Panipat in Haryana received 3 mm rainfall during the past 24 hours.
Amritsar in Punjab recorded a minimum temperature of 5.8 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal while minimum temperatures at ludhiana and Patiala were recorded up to two degrees below normal, at 9 and 9.4 degree Celsius respectively. In the neighbouring Haryana, Ambala and Karnal registered their minimums at 9.7 and 8.8 degree Celsius respectively. Minimum temperatures in Hisar, Narnaul and Bhiwani were recorded at 9.8 degrees, 9.5 degrees and 10.8 degree Celsius respectively.
The maximum temperature settled at 21.8 degrees in Ambala, 23 degrees in Bhiwani, 23.5 degrees in Hissar, 21.6 degree Celsius in Karnal, 22 degrees in Narnaul, 21.7 degrees in Amritsar, 21.4 degree Celsius in ludhiana and 21.9 degrees in Patiala. According to the Met Department forecast, rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana in next 48 hours.