Mercury shows upward trend in Northern region

New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI) Mercury on Sunday showed an
upward trend across the Northern belt, where it remained below
40-degree mark at most places in the past few days, as monsoon
rains played a truant again.

Most parts of the region remained dry during the day,
except in Rajasthan where scattered rains took place, and high
humidity levels added to discomfiture of the denizens.

In the absence of rains, mercury rose by few notches in
the national capital taking the maximum at 37.7 degrees
Celsius, two degrees up from yesterday, and high humidity
levels left the citizens sweating.

Isolated rains occurred in Rajasthan, where Ganganagar
was the hottest place with a maximum of 41 degrees followed by
Churu, Bikaner and Jaisalmer which recorded respective highs
of 40, 39 and 38 degrees.

With monsoon rains eluding the north-west parts of the
country for several days now, maximum temperatures at most
places in Punjab and Haryana on Sunday shot by a few degrees,
with Hisar sweating it out at 41.3 degrees.

While Hisar in Haryana was hotter by five degrees than
normal, sultry conditions also prevailed in Ambala at 37
degrees, three notches above normal.

Himachal Pradesh also witnessed marginal increase in
temperatures across the state where capital Shimla registered
a high of 24.2 degrees, despite moderate rainfall.

Hot and humid conditions prevailed in most parts of
Uttar Pradesh in the absence of rainfall in the last 24 hours
with capital Lucknow being the hottest place in the state at a
high of 36.2 degrees, three notches above normal, followed by
Gorakhpur which recorded a maximum of 35.7 degrees.

The Kashmir valley saw another hot day as mercury shot
up to three degrees above normal here.

The day temperature recorded in Srinagar was 33.5
degrees, three notches above normal, while in Jammu maximum
touched 35.3 degrees, one degree above normal.

Kupwara in North Kashmir was the second hottest place in
the state with a high of 34.0 degrees Celsius. PTI TEAM