Mercury plummets after widespread squall, rain

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 18

A severe thunderstorm accompanied by high velocity winds and intermittent showers lashed the state capital Shimla, its surrounding areas and several other parts of the state last night, causing sharp fall in mercury. However, even as the region had a clear day today people reeled under sultry heat.

Widespread rains occurred in the state during the day. Kahu and Gohar were wettest with 39 mm rains while Aghar and Dharamsala recorded 32 mm and 28 mm rains, followed by Bharari and Bhoranj 27 mm, Ghumarwin 25 mm, Gaggal 17 mm, Nadaun 16 mm, Dharampur and Guler 14 mm, Hamirpur and Jubbal 11 mm, Bhuntar 10 mm, Nagrota Suriyan 9 mm, Mandi and Kufri 5 mm and Shimla 4 mm.

The MeT office has predicted another wet spell in the state with rains and thundershowers in mid hills and rains or snow in higher hills for the next six days from June 19 to June 24 and rains and thunder showers in lower hills tomorrow and on June 23 and 24 as a Western Disturbance as cyclonic circulation lies over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, moving eastwards.

The state received average 30.6 mm rains from June 1 to June 18 against normal rainfall of 45.7 mm, a deficit of 33 per cent. The rains are beneficial for Rabi sowing but stormy conditions are harmful for apple, mango, stone fruits and vegetable crops.

The day temperatures dropped by three to four degree and Una was hottest in the state with a high of 34.6 degree while Paonta Sahib and Sundernagar recorded maximum temperature at 34.0 degree and 32.0 degree, followed by Nahan and Solan 29.0 degree, Dharamsala and Bhuntar 28.5 degree, Palampur 24.5 degree, Shimla 23.5 degree, Manali 19.4 degree, Dalhousie 17.8 degree, Kalpa 14.7 degree, Kufri 13.4 degree and Keylong 13.3 degree.