Heavy rain lashes state, hailstorm at some places

CHANDIGARH: Moderate to heavy rain and hailstorm lashed parts of Punjab and Haryana on Thursday, with maximum temperatures plunging by three to seven notches, the Met department said.

The night temperatures continued to rise for the third consecutive day, hovering a few notches above normal limits, they said. In Punjab, districts like Mohali, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Jalandhar witnessed rainfall. Rajpura in Patiala district was lashed by hailstorm. Ludhiana recorded 59.2mm of rainfall, which was highest in February in 16 years.

Heavy rains also lashed Chandigarh throughout the day with dark clouds hovering the city and reducing visibility on Thursday morning. The city recorded a low of 14 degrees Celsius, seven notches above its normal. Ambala, Panchkula and Karnal were among few places in Haryana to receive rainfall, a meteorological department official said.

The weather change was caused by a western disturb- ance, he said. In Punjab, Patiala recorded a low of 12.9 degrees Celsius, Ludhiana (12.2), Pathankot (11.7), Halwara (11), Bathinda (10.9), Adampur (10.7), Faridkot (9.8) and Amritsar (8.6).

AMARINDER ORDERS SPECIAL GIRDAWARI

Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday ordered a special girdawari for assessment of crop loss due to hailstorm in the state.

The CM has directed the revenue department officials to assess loss to crops through a special girdawari and submit timely reports, according to an official spokesperson.