Mercury soars in sultry Ludhiana but respite on the way

LUDHIANA: Residents sweated it out on Saturday as the day temperature hovered near the blistering 40 degrees Celsius mark. However, the good news is that the met department has predicted the arrival of western disturbance in Ludhiana on April 18.
Even as isolated clouds appeared in sky on Saturday, most of the day was scorchingly hot.
Maximum temperature was recorded at 39.4 degrees Celsius, 4.8 degrees more than normal and 1.6 degrees more than a day before. Minimum (night) temperature was recorded at 19.6 degrees Celsius, 3.4 degrees above normal but 0.5 degree less than a day before. The meteorological department has predicted some respite on Tuesday. Met officials said that the weather forecast for Sunday is "generally cloudy sky" whereas for Monday, it is "partly cloudy sky."
They added that for Tuesday and Wednesday, the weather forecast for Ludhiana is "generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers".
Met department officials said that day temperature is expected to fall after three days, but night temperature would increase in the next three days.
They added that on April 18 and 19, there are chances of "thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds (speed 30 to 40 kilometres per hour).
The met department website suggests that whereas day temperature is expected to fall to 38 degrees on Sunday and remain the same on Monday, it is expected to fall to 32 degrees by Wednesday. Night temperature might rise to 24 degrees by Tuesday and then fall to 19 degrees by Thursday.
Meanwhile, residents struggled to cope with the heat using appliances and cold beverages.
"I had gone to pick up my daughter from school in the afternoon and it was so hot. Even the rooms were hot and for the first time, we had to use air conditioners during the day," said Sandeep Singh, a city resident.