Chandigarh, October 12
The areas close to the Shivaliks foothills were plunged into darkness — only for a while . Thick and dark clouds roared and rumbled. It poured incessantly in the afternoon today. Lightning followed each roar as roundabouts and road stretches in the city filled up. Traffic came to a halt.

Ludhiana, Amritsar and Bathinda remained overcast, but rainfall was scanty. As the rain was accompanied by hailstorm in certain parts, paddy in the vast area of Morinda, Ropar, Ambala, Rajpura was flattened.

Farmers say that harvest combines will not be able to move in the water-logged fields. The harvesting of paddy may be delayed. Moreover moisture will disfigure grains brought to markets today. A report from Phagwara says that squall hit the area this afternoon. Paddy was submerged in grain markets.

There are also reports of a high velocity duststorm lashing the Bathinda region. Trees along roads got uprooted, leading to disruption of traffic, especially on Chandigarh- Patiala and Chandigarh- Ropar roads.

Reports from Shimla, Lahaul-Spiti and upper reaches of Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir say that there was snow in those areas since early morning. There was hailstorm in the vast region of Himachal Pradesh. Cold wave has gripped the Rohtang Pass, Kunzam Pass, Dhauladhar and Churdhar. Tourists in Shimla and other places in Himachal had to buy woolens.