Bathinda: Rain, hailstorm and storm continued in Punjab for the second consecutive day on Saturday, causing damage to the standing wheat crop in many districts.Light to moderate rain occurred in Bathinda, Moga, Muktsar and Amritsar, while hailstorm occurred in villages like Karyal, Bajeke, Bakarwala and Reharwan in Dharamkot subdivision of Moga district. There is information about hailstorm in Abohar also.The inclement weather caused by rain, hailstorm and strong winds caused fresh damage to wheat fields, especially in the villages of Dharamkot, where farmers said the crop was already weakened.Scattered light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunder, lightning and strong winds were observed over Punjab and Haryana. The wind speed remained between 30 to 50 km per hour, with some places reaching a speed of 60 km per hour.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Punjab recorded 285% excess rainfall in the 24 hours between 8.30 am on April 3 and 8.30 am on April 4, with 2.7 mm rainfall against the normal of 0.7 mm. Haryana recorded 272% excess rainfall, with 2.2 mm rainfall against the normal of 0.6 mm, while Himachal Pradesh recorded 285% excess rainfall, with 9.2 mm against the normal of 2.4 mm.From April 1 to the morning of April 4, Punjab recorded 418% excess rainfall, with 7.8 mm of rain against the normal of 1.5 mm. Haryana recorded 6.0 mm of rainfall – 264% above normal – while Himachal Pradesh recorded 12.0 mm of rainfall, 69% above normal for the period.Thunderstorm accompanied by strong winds with speed of 50 to 80 kmph occurred at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana.The lowest minimum temperature in the plains was recorded at 14.6 degrees Celsius in Bathinda.IMD has warned that the weather disruption is not over yet. Another fresh spell of light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorm, lightning, hailstorm and gusty winds is likely at isolated places over Punjab and Haryana on April 7 and 8. There is a possibility of scattered to fairly widespread rainfall or snowfall in Himachal Pradesh on April 9.Strong winds of 56 kmph were recorded in Mohali and Sangrur and 50 kmph in Bathinda. In Haryana, wind speed reached 46 kmph in Charkhi Dadri and 44 kmph in Jind. The strongest winds were recorded at Neri in Himachal Pradesh with a speed of 59 kmph.(Photos: Hailstorm in Abohar, crops damaged by hail in Dharamkot villages)
