M A I N   N E W S

Widespread rain in North

Chandigarh, July 9
Chandigarh and satellite towns of Mohali (Punjab) and Panchkula (Haryana) had heavy rain (33mm in less than two hours) throwing life out of gear.

As the rain water seeped the telecommunication system in the city was badly hit, especially the ticker lines of the news agencies.

Many vehicles broke down at roundabouts, while labour colonies were knee-deep in water. The rain, preceded by strong winds, brought the much needed respite to the people from hot and humid conditions that had been hovering around 87 per cent in the maximum and 52 per cent in the minimum.

The day temperature, dipped by five degrees below normal to 33.4 degrees Celsius.

Weather Bureau here has forecast light to moderate rain or thunder showers at many places in Himachal and a few places in Haryana, Punjab and rest of the northwest region over the next 48 hours.

Reports here said Hisar recorded 0.7 mm, Narnaul 6.4 mm and Rohtak 1.2 mm rain.

Amritsar and Ludhiana in Punjab received 1.8 mm and 0.8 mm rain respectively.

While Jammu, winter capital of J and K, reported 5.2 mm rainfall, summer capital Srinagar received 2.6 mm rainfall.

As HP reported widespread rain, state capital Shimla and its surrounding areas were lashed by heavy downpour during the day. Besides 11.3 mm rainfall during the day, the town had recorded 0.4 mm rain in the past 24 hours. — UNI