Rains lash parts of north India as monsoon revives

Afternoon rains brought much-awaited respite to Delhiites who had been reeling under hot and humid conditions for the past several days.

Delhi recorded 25.6 mm of rainfall during the day, which brought down the mercury to a pleasant 27 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperature was recorded at 40.2 degrees and humidity in the air oscillated between 50 and 84 per cent, according to the MeT office.

The hot and humid conditions coupled with frequent power cuts during odd hours had been tormenting Delhiites for some time. Temperatures had remained above the 40 degrees Celsius mark all of last week.

In Uttar Pradesh, two persons were killed and three others injured after being struck by lightning as moderate to heavy rains continued in several parts of the state's eastern region since Saturday.

Govardhan (38) and Ramawati (40) were killed after being hit by lightning in separate incidents in Tulsipur area of Balrampur district last evening, Sub-divisional Magistrate Y B Singh said.

Phaphamau in Allahabad received 13-cm rainfall. Other areas which received rains were Phoolpur, Dhaurara, Bani, Varanasi, Sirauli Gauspur, Patti, Elgin Bridge, Chandauli, Philibhit, Nighasan, Chatnag, Bhinga , Paliakalan, Neemsar, Madiahu, Ghorawal, Sahabad and Bahedi.

Despite isolated showers in some pockets, sultry weather conditions continued to prevail in Punjab and Haryana. The MeT office in Chandigarh, however, said relief from the heatwave was round the corner.

Hisar in Haryana sizzled at 43.2 degrees Celsius, the highest in the region, while Ambala registered a high of 35.8 degrees. The Union Territory of Chandigarh, parts of which witnessed drizzle, recorded a maximum of 36.8 degrees.

In Punjab, Amritsar was the hottest place at 40 degrees Celsius. Despite light rains, there was no relief from sweltering heat for the residents of Ludhiana (38.7 deg C) and Patiala (37.5 deg C), where the mercury stood at above normal level.