Chandigarh: A significant change in weather has brought relief from the intense heat across Punjab and Chandigarh, with the India Meteorological Department issuing an Orange Alert for rain, thunderstorms, hail, and gusty winds in several districts. The changing conditions are expected to continue over the coming days, providing respite from the recent heatwave.
After strong winds and scattered rainfall swept across the state, maximum temperatures witnessed a sharp decline of nearly 4 degrees Celsius, slipping below the seasonal average. Abohar recorded the highest daytime temperature at 42°C, while many regions experienced noticeably cooler conditions.
The Meteorological Centre has forecast widespread rain and thunderstorms across Punjab, with hailstorm activity likely in districts including Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur, Bathinda, and Mansa. Wind speeds may reach up to 70 kmph in isolated areas, prompting authorities to advise residents to remain cautious and avoid taking shelter under trees or near electric poles during storms.
The adverse weather has also affected normal life in several districts. In Amritsar, one person reportedly lost his life after a wall collapsed during the storm, while strong winds disrupted traffic and uprooted trees in various locations. In Pathankot, a fallen tree blocked a section of the Amritsar National Highway, causing long traffic snarls. Khanna also witnessed property damage after lightning struck an old tree, causing it to crash onto nearby houses.
According to weather officials, Sangrur recorded the strongest winds, with gusts crossing 110 kmph, while Faridkot and Bathinda also experienced high-speed winds that damaged infrastructure and electricity networks.
The storm activity led to major disruptions in Punjab’s power distribution system, resulting in a sharp fall in recorded electricity demand as supply lines were affected in many areas. Officials clarified that the decline reflected outages rather than reduced consumption.
Meteorologists expect daytime temperatures to remain lower over the next few days before gradually rising again. Rain and thunderstorm activity is likely to persist until June 17, with intermittent showers expected across multiple districts.
Authorities have urged people to stay updated with weather advisories and exercise caution during periods of heavy rain and strong winds as the state continues to witness unstable weather conditions.
