New Delhi: Mercury Saturday rose across the northern belt in the absence of heavy rains with the high humidity adding to the woes of people while flood situation in Punjab-Haryana region remained grave.
The ravaging flood, according to officials, claimed 32 lives so far in the two states. Though water started receding in the worst-affected districts of Ambala and Kurukshetra, the situation remained worrisome as fresh breaches were reported.
Army was engaged in rescue and relief operations while authorities stepped up efforts to drain out water. Train services on the Ambala-Delhi section were restored.
Punjab asked the Centre to assess the damage, saying over 566 villages across seven districts were submerged. No heavy rainfall was reported in the region in the past two days, which helped in smooth conduct of relief operations.
Water-level in Bhakra Dam, Pong Dam and Ranjit Sagar Dam neared danger mark. Prices of vegetables increased manifold as farmers in the two states suffered heavy losses.
Meanwhile, in the national capital, temperature rose steadily with the maximum settling at 38.7 degrees, three notches above normal, and the minimum touching 30.5 deg C, four degrees above normal. The city recorded an average humidity of 70 per cent.
In Rajasthan, some parts received light to moderate rains with Shahpura recording a maximum rainfall of 9 cm followed by Sapotra and Nokha 5 cm, Govindgarh, Niwai and Kishangarh 3 cm.
In Himachal Pradesh, temperature at many places fell marginally following moderate rains.
State capital Shimla recorded a high of 24.5 deg C against 25.5 deg C yesterday while Dharamsala which received 18.4 mm of rains recorded a maximum temperature of 28.6 degrees against 34.4 deg C the previous day.
Una, which was drenched by 44.2 mm rainfall, was the hottest in the state at 35.2 deg C against 36.4 deg C yesterday.
Ghamroor was wettest in the state with 49 mm of rains, followed by Jhandutta 29 mm, Guler 24 mm, Berthin and Jubbar Hatti 23 mm each, Dehra Gopipur 20 mm and Kasauli 11 mm.
