Squall, rain lash Amritsar, cause waterlogging, power cuts

High-velocity winds accompanied by rain lashed city in the evening taking people by surprise and disrupting normal life. The sudden dust storm followed by rain filled the roads and paths with water in no time, halting the movement of two-wheelers and causing power disruption.

Key roads, including Batala Road, Lawrence Road, Mall Road and GT Road, witnessed severe waterlogging. At Majitha Road, where an ongoing gas pipeline project has left long stretches dug up, worsened the waterlogging. Trees were uprooted in residential areas, including Race Course Road, Court Road and other areas, causing difficulties for commuters.

As per the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) weather report released on Saturday, the country is witnessing a diverse set of weather phenomena — from extremely heavy rainfall in southern and western regions to heatwave conditions in the north and northwest. Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon has hit the Kerala coast earlier than expected, marking its earliest arrival over the Indian mainland since 2019.

In Amritsar and other parts of Punjab, the weather department has predicted a heatwave with above normal rise in day temperature for three to four days. The unexpected thunderstorm with lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) has come as a surprise. There is also a possibility of dust storms, particularly in West Rajasthan, with a wind speed of 40-50 kmph. While heavy rainfall is predicted in some areas, Amritsar itself is likely to experience light to moderate rainfall. — TNS