Heavy rains batter north India

Heavy rains lashed North India today, wreaking havoc in several states leading to waterlogged roads and traffic congestion.

Heavy rains pounded several parts of the national capital where commuters had a hard time navigating.

The rains came after heavy overcast conditions plunged Delhi into near darkness in the afternoon, prompting the vehicles to ply with their headlights on. Trees were also uprooted in some areas.

A MeT department official said according to the Safdarjung observatory, the recordings of which are considered official figures for Delhi, the city received 52.4 mm of rain between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm.

Heavy rainfall was also recorded in many parts of Punjab and Haryana, ending a week-long dry spell.

 

Chandigarh received heavy downpour and the mercury dropped by a few notches. In Haryana, Panchkula, Ambala, Yamunanagar, Hisar, Sirsa and Narnaul were among the places that received rains. Mohali, Ropar, Ludhiana and Gurdaspur in Punjab were also lashed by rains.

Kangra in Himachal Pradesh received the highest rainfall as the state continued to be pounded by rains,

While Kangra recorded 90.3 mm rain, Palampur recorded 75 mm in the last 24 hours.

Parts of Rajasthan received heavy rainfall, while light to moderate rainfall was recorded in many places in eastern parts of the state since yesterday.

A Qatar Airways Kochi-bound Airbus A330 aircraft carrying 306 passengers from Doha landed "off-centred" on runway due to a sudden downpour and strong crosswinds.

Twelve runway lights were damaged in the incident.