Chandigarh: Changing weather conditions continued to provide relief from intense heat across parts of Punjab, with the Meteorological Department forecasting rain, thunderstorms and strong winds in multiple districts over the next few days. Officials have warned that gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 50 kmph and lightning activity could accompany the showers in several regions.
Weather experts have predicted light to moderate rainfall in districts including Jalandhar, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Bathinda and Mansa. Chandigarh is expected to experience partly cloudy skies, while intermittent rain and storm activity may continue across the state until midweek.
The changing weather pattern follows a spell of strong winds and scattered rainfall that affected several cities on Sunday night. In a tragic incident in Fazilka district, a dairy farmer lost his life after a tree collapsed during a storm. Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious during periods of high wind activity and avoid sheltering under trees or weak structures.
Despite the weather disturbances, electricity demand in Punjab has remained elevated due to persistent heat conditions. Power consumption touched nearly 13,800 MW, prompting increased reliance on electricity supplied from the central grid. At the same time, a number of thermal power generation units in the state remain partially or fully shut, placing additional pressure on the power network.
Meteorological data also indicates that Punjab has received below-normal rainfall so far this month, although a few districts have recorded above-average precipitation. Weather officials expect temperatures to ease slightly over the next couple of days before rising again later in the week as rainfall activity gradually subsides.
The forecast suggests that scattered rain and thunderstorms will continue in different parts of Punjab through June 24, while conditions are expected to become largely dry from June 25 onward.
