Met forecasts heavy rain in Punjab, Haryana

Maximum temperatures on Sunday were slightly above normal levels in most parts of Punjab and Haryana.

Chandigarh, the joint capital of both States, recorded a maximum temperature of 33.5 degrees Celsius, according to Meteorological Department.

In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a maximum temperature of 35.6 degrees Celsius while Ludhiana and Patiala recorded a maximum of 35.2 and 35.1 degrees Celsius respectively.

In Haryana's Ambala, Bhiwani, Hisar and Narnaul, the maximum temperature settled at 34.7, 35.2, 37 and 32.5 degrees Celsius respectively.

The Met Department has forecast heavy rain or thundershowers at few places in Punjab and Haryana over the next two days.

Meanwhile, the hills of Himachal Pradesh continued to experience moderate to heavy rainfall on Sunday, causing landslides and blocking roads, while all the major rivers and their tributaries were in spate.

More rains are in store this week, the Met office in Shimla said. According to the Met Department, “Monsoon is active over the state. Light to moderate rainfall occurred at many places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at some places in Kangra district and heavy rainfall in Mandi, Chamba and Hamirpur districts.”

While Gaggal town recorded the highest rainfall in the State at 124 mm, it was 113 mm in Nagrota Suriyan, 97 mm in Sarkaghat and 95 mm in Dharamsala and 83 mm in Dalhousie. Shimla saw 11.4 mm of rain.

An official of the Met office said there are chances of heavy rainfall at some places in the State till Wednesday.

Incessant rains have caused massive landslides in Mandi and Chamba districts, hampering vehicular traffic. The water level in the major rivers of the State - the Satluj, Beas and Yamuna - which enter the neighbouring States of Punjab and Haryana has also increased.