Two persons were killed as rains and thundershowers lashed parts of Uttar Pradesh even as mercury in northern and eastern states today hovered close to normal levels barring a few parts of Rajasthan and Odisha.
Day temperatures in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Odisha, Bihar and West Bengal dropped to below 40 degrees as a result of rains and thundershowers over the past few days.
The maximum in Delhi, which had a relatively cooler morning, was 38.9 degrees Celsius. The city recorded the minimum at 26 degrees.
The maximum temperatures in other three metropolitan centers of Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai were 36.5, 41.2, 34.8 degrees, respectively.
In Uttar Pradesh, officials said a 10-year-old boy was killed in Mathura district's Barauli village when an overhead shed fell on him during a strong dust storm. Another 42-year-old person died when, during the dust storm, a tree fell on the car he was travelling in.
Light to moderate rain and thundershowers occurred at isolated areas giving relief to the people. Agra received 2 cm of rains followed by Rath, Khair, Basti and Mankapur with 1 cm each since yesterday. Churk was the hottest place in the state at 40.6 degrees.
In Odisha, the day temperature was recorded above 40 degrees mark at 11 places with Bhawani Patna being the hottest place in the state at 43.7 degrees.
Sonepur sizzled at 43, Titlagarh at 42.5, Hirakud at 42.1, Bolangir and Sundergarh at 42, Angul at 41.7, Talcher at 41.5, Jharsuguda at 41.4 and Sambalpur at 40.4 degrees.
Coastal districts of the state saw a decline in temperatures in the wake of intermittent light rains and thunderstorm since last evening.
In Rajasthan in the west, dry weather conditions pushed mercury up with at least eight places recording their respective maximums above 40 degrees Celsius.
Chruru and Kota simmered at 43.2 degrees, followed by Ganganagar, Barmer, Bikaner and Jaisalmer at 42.9, 41.2, 41 and 41.5 degrees.
Gangetic West Bengal had a pleasant day. The weatherman predicted scattered rainfall in the region and widespread showers in four districts of Darjeeling, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri in the sub-Himalayan belt over the next two days.
Asansol recorded the day's highest temperature in the state at 38.9 degrees, closely followed by Bankura at 37.6 degrees. Kolkata had a high of 36.5 degrees.
It was a relatively cooler day in Jharkhand with only Palamau district recording the maximum above 40 degrees mark at 40.4. The local MeT office said rains or thundershowers are likely at a few places in the state in the next 24 hours.
Maximum temperatures across Punjab and Haryana rose slightly but remained below 40 degrees at most places.
Hisar was the hottest place in Haryana at 40.5 degrees. Mercury in Ludhiana and Amritsar in Punjab rose to 40.6 degrees Celsius, while the Union Territory of Chandigarh had a high of 39.5 degrees.
(Reopens DEL65)
In the north, the spell of rains continued over eastern Uttar Pradesh even as the MeT office said more showers are likely tomorrow.
The water level in major rivers of the state, including the Ganga, the Yamuna, Sharda, Ghagra, Rapti and Rohini has breached the danger mark at various places due to rains.
Heavy rains hit parts of Rajasthan for the second consecutive day with Kota receiving 9.8 cm, and Jaswantpura and Raniwara in Jalore getting 7 cm and 4 cm of rains, respectively. The weatherman has warned of heavy rains in the eastern part of the state tomorrow.
On the other hand, Sri Ganganagar, Churu and Bikaner simmered at 43.7, 42.5 and 41.8 degrees.
Punjab and Haryana also reeled under sultry conditions fed by sporadic rains.
