Rain, hail hit region; crop damage reported
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh/Shimla/Ambala, March 8
Temperatures on Sunday hovered below normal levels in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal as some parts of the three states continued to be lashed by rains and hailstorm.
The 300-km Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in J&K, which reopened yesterday after five days, again closed today following fresh landslides at several places while air traffic remained suspended due to fresh rainfall since last night.
A traffic department offical said: "With adverse weather forecast for the next two days, the road is unlikely to be opened for traffic today."
Hailstorm hit the state capital Shimla and adjoining areas while upper region experienced mild snowfall. Icy winds swept the region causing sharp fall in day’s temperature. Lower areas are experiencing intermittent rains since last night.
Chandigarh, which received light showers this morning, recorded a minimum temperature of 11.1 degrees Celsius, one notch below normal, a Met department report said.
Amritsar in Punjab was the coldest place in the two states recording a low of 6.4 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal.
Ludhiana registered a minimum temperature of 9.2 degrees Celsius, down by two degrees while Patiala's low settled at 10.2 degrees Celsius, also down by two notches.
Hailstorm also hit parts of Mohali and Dera Bassi.
In Haryana, Hisar recorded a low of 10.4 degrees Celsius, down by three notches while Ambala's minimum temperature settled at 12.1 degrees Celsius.
Narnaul recorded a low of 11.6 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, many parts of the two states, including Ambala, Kurukshetra, Mohali and Amritsar, were lashed by light rains since yesterday.
A few vehicles were damaged as trees fell on them at Barara in Ambala. Strong winds also damaged standing crop in Ambala. Various parts of the district were hit by hailstorms.
Yesterday's maximum temperature at most places in the two states hovered 2-8 notches below normal, settling in the range of 18-24 degrees Celsius.
More rains have been forecast at many places in the two states tomorrow.
With PTI inputs
