Monsoon showers lashed northern India and brought tragedy in its wake in Uttarakhand where two persons were killed while two others were swept away in the waters of swollen rivers.
Moderate to heavy rainfall was reported in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana although Delhi had to be content with partly cloudy skies and sticky weather.
The maximum temperature in the national capital was recorded at 34.6 degrees Celsius, one notch above normal, while the minimum settled at 26.5 degrees, which is normal for this time of the year.
Humidity levels during the day fluctuated between 57 and 89 per cent, causing discomfort to Delhiites.
The hill state of Uttarakhand, scene of a massive flash flood tragedy last year, continued to be lashed by rain for the fifth consecutive day today, causing roads to its famous Himalayan shrines to be blocked at nearly half-a-dozen places and cutting off many villages.
A woman was buried alive last evening under rubble brought over by a landslide in Ukhimath in Rudraparayag district while an old man was killed when a cowshed caved in at Lohaghat in Champavat district. Two others were swept away by the strong currents of separate rivers at Rikhnikhal in Garhwal and Sultanpatti in Kumaon, officials said.
All the major rivers in the state, like Ganga, Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Mandakini, Kali, Saryu and Sharda, are in spate but still flowing below the danger mark.
Intermittent rain in most districts has also served to clog the highways leading to the char dhams.
In the past 24 hours, heavy rains have occurred at various places in Uttarakhand with Dhari receiving showers measuring 160mm followed by Haldwani (145mm), Banbasa 128mm) and Champavat 116mm).
Maximum temperatures hovered close to normal levels in most places across Punjab and Haryana with their common capital Chandigarh recording a high of 35 degrees.
In Punjab's Amritsar, the mercury touched 36 degrees with the city receiving light showers. Ludhiana, too, was lashed by rain and recorded a maximum of 34.1 degrees.
