There was a marginal drop in mercury in North India today as scattered showers overnight brought some relief from the searing heat.
In the national capital, which was lashed by rains and strong winds last evening, the maximum temperature came down and remained below 40 degree Celsius.
The day temperature settled at 38.5 degree Celsius, one point below normal, against yesterday's 39.5 degree Celsius.
The minimum settled at a comfortable 21.4 degree Celsius, four notches below normal. Unseasonal rains and thunderstorm were the main cause of temperature coming down in the city.
The mercury in Punjab and Haryana also dropped by a few notches in parts of the region.
The day temperature in Union Territory Chandigarh came down to 37.4 deg C against yesterday's 38.6 degrees C.
In Punjab, the maximum in Ludhiana dropped to 38.4 deg C from yesterday's 40.3 degrees C while Patiala recorded 37 deg C.
Amritsar, however, remained the hottest place in the region with the maximum at 40.2 deg C, up by two notches above normal level, Met department said here.
In Haryana, Hisar and Karnal recorded maximum at 39.8 deg C and 38.6 deg C respectively while Ambala and Bhiwani had a high of 38.1 deg C and 38.4 deg C.
In Rajasthan, light rainfall occurred at isolated places in Jaipur, Bikaner and Jodhpur divisions but it did not give much respite from the scorching heat.
Barmer continued to remain hottest place in with the maximum of 43.1 degree Celsius followed by Kota which sizzled at 42.4 degrees.
Churu and Chittorgarh recorded 41.6 degree Celsius whereas Bikaner, Jaipur, Ajmer and Ganganagar recorded day temperature of 41.2, 40.1, 39.5 and 39.4 degree Celsius, according to MeT department here.
