Pre-monsoon showers cool India, to stay for two more days

New Delhi: Pre-monsoon showers continue to provide respite from heat in the north and east India and are likely to continue for two more days at least, the weather department and private forecasters said.

In the national capital, the maximum temperature after a rainy morning dipped to 32.4 degree Celsius while pre-monsoon rains are expected till Wednesday, which would follow dry winds leading to a rise in the mercury. The city witnessed 4.4 mm rainfall between 8.30 p.m. on Sunday and 8.30 am on Monday.

As per weather analysts, cyclonic circulation over Punjab, Haryana and Pakistan has an effect extending till eastern India.

"Light rain shower are expected till Tuesday. If the western winds continue bringing moisture, then it may extend till Wednesday. However, from June 1- 2 the weather in Delhi, Punjab, Harayana, Bihar, Odisha and parts of West Bengal would start becoming dry till the normal monsoon arrives by June 30," private weather forecaster Skymet's director Mahesh Palawat told IANS. 

Besides Delhi, this pattern of unseasonal rains will prevail over Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand for another two days, while the northeastern states would continue receiving pre-monsoon rain showers till the normal monsoon arrives between June 12 and 14.

"Temporary pre-monsoon rain showers will merge in the normal monsoon in northeastern states. The coastal region of West Bengal would, however, turn dry from Wednesday onwards," Palawat said.

However, as per weather analysts the temperature may rise up to 40-41 degrees Celsius after Wednesday. 

Marathwada and Vidarbha regions of Maharashtra would also receive isolated rains for next two days, met department officials said.

Rains battered most parts of the hill state of Uttarakhand on Monday, while Met Office warned of more rains in the next 36 hours. 

The annual 'Char Dham Yatra' has also been hit and many devotees have been stranded enroute to the four shrines -- Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri. 

The rains, which started on Sunday, continued at many places in the state including Dehradun, Badrinath, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag and Gopeshwar.

Heavy damage was also reported at some parts of the state Uttarakhand where heavy hailstorm, rains and a cloudburst wreaked havoc. 

Meanwhile, at least 12 people were killed across Uttar Pradesh due to accidents attributed to storms, lightning and heavy rains.