Policemen stand under a shelter during rainfall in Bathinda in Punjab. (Press Trust of India)
Ending the prolonged dry spell, rains today lashed few places in Punjab and neighbouring Haryana, the two leading agrarian states which are facing around 40 per cent deficit monsoon rains each this year.
Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, was lashed by rains since this morning, causing mercury to dip by a few notches, according to the Meterological Department in Chandigarh.
At many places in Punjab and Haryana, rains brought relief to the people from sultry weather conditions.
Among other places in Punjab, rains lashed Mohali, Ropar, Bathinda, Moga, Patiala, Hoshiarpur while Panchkula, Ambala, Yamunanagar and Kurukshetra in Haryana also received showers.
Notably, Punjab and Haryana, have received scanty rainfall this year. Chandigarh has also received poor rains with a deficit of 43 per cent.
According to the Meterological Department's data available from June 1 to September 12, Punjab received 269.8 mm rainfall against the normal 448.1 mm for the period.
Haryana received 255.9 mm rainfall during the period, against the normal 425.3 mm.
Chandigarh received 431 mm of rain between June 1 and September 12 against the normal of 762.5 mm.