S-W monsson advances in southern states; heat wave in Rajasthan

The southwest monsoon that hit Kerala yesterday advanced into remaining parts of the state, and other southern states even as heatwave conditions prevailed in many places in Rajasthan today with Churu being the hottest place at 46.5 degrees Celsius.

An IMD bulletin said conditions are favourable for further advancement of monsoon to remaining parts of coastal and south interior Karnataka, some parts of south Konkan and Goa, north interior Karnataka, some more parts of Rayalaseema, and coastal Andhra Pradesh during next two days.

In the national capital, it was hot day even as it turned overcast afternoon onwards bringing little relief to Delhiites with the maximum temperature settling at 41.1 degrees Celsius, two notches above the the season’s average.

MeT office predicted overcast conditions with possibility of rain, thunderstorm and duststorm in Delhi for tomorrow.

In Himachal Pradesh, two tourists were today killed and another injured when a tree, uprooted by a severe storm, fell on the tent they were sleeping in at nature park managed by the state government.

In Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district three persons, including a woman, died in lightning strike last night.

The victims, all in their twenties, were returning home from market when rain accompanied by thunder hit the area and all of them took shelter under a thatched roof.

One of the victims switched on the torch of his mobile phone when the lightning struck killing them on the spot, the state police said.

Churu in Rajasthan was the hottest place at 46.5 degrees Celsius followed by Sriganganagar at 46.2 degrees.

Heatwave conditions prevailed in many parts of Rajasthan where Kota, Jaipur, Pilani, Bikaner and Ajmer recorded maximum temperatures of 45.4, 44.3, 43.6, 43.3 and 42.7 respectively.

In Uttar Pradesh Jhansi was the hottest place at 45.5 degrees Celsius.

The UP Met office said Dhaurahra received 6 cms rainfall followed by Faizabad, Chandreepghat, Kakardharighat, Kaiserganj - 4 cms each, while Sidhauli, Basti, Sitapur, Shardanagar, Elgin bridge, Nighasan and, Pallia Kalan - received 3 cm of each.

In West Bengal Coochbehar in Sub-Himalayan region recorded the day’s highest rainfall in the state at 68 mm.

In Odisha, rains in several parts kept temperatures below 40-mark across the state, except Hirakud which recorded 40 degrees Celsius. Gopalpur received a rainfall of 52 mm followed by Sundargarh (44 mm) and Anugul (21mm).

The regional IMD has predicted arrival of monsoon this week and the state government is taking preparatory measures as 113 per cent rain is expected in the season.