Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab and Chandigarh witnessed a sudden change in weather on Thursday as heavy rain, hailstorms and strong winds lashed several districts, bringing relief from the heat but also causing damage and disruption.
Evening showers were reported in Amritsar, Jalandhar and Mansa, while Amritsar experienced hail along with heavy rain. Strong winds reaching nearly 90 kmph caused two motorcycle riders to lose control and fall on the road near Jandiala Guru.
In another incident, a person died after a wall collapsed during the storm. Earlier in the day, Mohali witnessed light rain following strong winds, while Ludhiana also reported hailstorms.
In Khanna, lightning struck a nearly 150-year-old tree, causing it to collapse onto several houses and damaging roofs and walls.
The active western disturbance is expected to keep weather conditions unstable, with forecasts predicting thunderstorms and rain in many parts of Punjab over the next three days.
Meanwhile, high temperatures continued to push up electricity demand, which crossed 14,500 MW during the day. The state generated around 5,300 MW of power and purchased nearly 2,800 MW from the central grid, yet several cities experienced power cuts.
Amid the fluctuating weather, Mohali Civil Surgeon Dr. Sangeeta Jain also issued a heat stroke advisory, urging children, elderly people, pregnant women and those with heart conditions to stay hydrated and avoid prolonged exposure to heat. Symptoms such as dizziness, high fever, excessive thirst, headache, vomiting, unconsciousness and hot, dry skin require immediate medical attention.
