Shimla:
Rains and thunderstorm on Saturday lashed several areas of Himachal Pradesh, bringing some relief from the summer heat, and more showers are likely in the next couple of days.
High velocity swept the region affecting normal life while the sky remained overcast.
The state capital Shimla was also swept by strong winds accompanied by intermittent showers, bringing down the mercury. The maximum temperature which had soared to 28 degree, dropped to 25 degrees on Saturday while minimum temperature was at 16.6 degree C.
Dalhousie in Chamba district received 12 mm of rains while various parts of Chamba, Kullu, Shimla, Mandi and Bilaspur experienced mild rains.
Una was hottest in the region but maximum dropped by one degree to stay at 40.6 degree while Nahan recorded a high of 33 degree, followed by Solan 31 degree, Sundernagar 30.3 degree, Dharamsala 29.8 degree, Bhuntar 29.3 degree and Kalpa 19.8 degree, drop of 2 to 4 degree since Friday.
Nahan was hottest in the region during the night with minimum temperature at 23.5 degree while Una recorded a low of 19.5 degree followed by Dharamsala and Sundernagar 18.6 degree, Chamba 16.9 degree and Bhuntar 14.5 degree C.
Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district was coldest in the region with a low of 5.9 degree while the Kalpa in adjoining tribal district of Kinnaur recorded minimum temperature at 9.4 degree C.
The local MeT office has predicted rains or thunderstorms at numerous places in the state during next 48 hours as an upper air system now lies over North Pakistan and adjoining Jammu and Kashmir.