Met Dept issues ‘red alert' for Pb, Hry, Chd

With temperatures surpassing the 45 degrees Celsius-mark across several parts in the region, the Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued a “red” warning for Punjab, Haryana and their joint capital- Chandigarh for the next two days.

Intense heat wave continued to swept Punjab and Haryana with maximum temperature soaring several degrees above normal in most parts of both states.

A Met official said that both maximum and minimum temperature levels were recorded above normal limits across the region.

According to the Met Department forecast, severe heat wave conditions are likely at many places in Punjab and Haryana May 25 and 26.

In Haryana, Narnaul was the hottest place as it recorded mercury at 45 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal. Hisar settled at a high of 43.6 degree Celsius, two degrees above normal while Ambala recorded a maximum of 42.6 degree Celsius, up by four degrees from normal. Karnal recorded a high of 41.6 degrees, three notches above normal.

Punjab’s holy city Amritsar braved the scorching heat at maximum temperature of 41.2 degree Celsius, two degrees above normal. Patiala and Ludhiana recorded respective maximum temperatures at 42.6 degrees and 41.9 degree Celsius, both three notches above normal limits.

Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana settled at maximum temperature of 41.7 degree Celsius, up by four notches from normal.

The union territory of Chandigarh settled at minimum temperature of 25.7 degrees, which was two notches above normal. The minimum temperature recorded in Narnaul was 27 degrees, Ambala 23.2 degree Celsius, Hisar 24.1 degrees, Amritsar recorded 23.2 degree Celsius, Ludhiana 23.6 degrees and Patiala 23.5 degree Celsius.

TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO RISE IN HIMACHAL

Temperatures continued to rise in parts of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday and Una was the hottest place in the state with a maximum temperature of 42 degrees Celsius, the Meteorological centre here said.

Most other parts of the state recorded temperatures above the 30-degree mark.

Una recorded the highest temperature in the hill state at 42 degrees Celsius, Shimla Meteorological Centre director Manmohan Singh

said. Bilaspur recorded a maximum temperature of 41 degrees Celsius, followed by 40.8 in Hamirpur, 38.8 in Sundernagar, 37.2 in Nahan, 37 in Kangra, 35.9 in Chamba, 34.8 in Solan, 31.6 in Dharamshala and 31 in Palampur.

Tourist places Shimla, Manali, Dalhousie and Kufri recorded maximum temperatures of 27.9, 26.8, 23 and 19.8 degrees Celsius respectively.

The mercury settled at 19 degrees Celsius in tribal district Lahaul-Spiti's administrative centre Keylong and Kinnaur's Kalpa recorded a maximum temperature of 23.8 degrees Celsius.