Mercury dips in most parts of North

New Delhi, May 15 (PTI) India's eastern state Orissa,
reeling under intense heat, had a respite Friday with heavy
rains lashing its south coast and no casualties reported from
the state, while mercury also dipped in most parts of North
India bringing relief from the scorching sun.

Heavy rains lashed the south coastal areas of Orissa
with Brahampur receiving 8cm rainfall.

However, no casualties were reported from the state
where death toll due to sun stroke rose to 130 Thursday.

The day temperature in Jammu and Kashmir also dipped
slightly although the night temperature continued to show an
upward trend across the valley.

In Srinagar, maximum temperature was recorded at 27.4
degrees Celsius, 4.4 notches above normal, while Jammu
registered a high of 38.7 degrees.

Mercury dipped a few notches below normal in most parts
of Punjab and Haryana even as Hisar sizzled at a high of 43.7
degrees.

Among the other places, Amritsar had a high of 40.4
degrees, two notches above normal.

Barring Jhansi, where the day's temperature rose to 43.9
degrees, it was comparatively a cool day in Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh's Capital Lucknow recorded 37.9 degrees
maximum temperature, which was two notches below normal.

Gorakhpur was comparatively cooler at 34.6 degrees, while
maximum temperature at Varanasi, Allahabad, Bareilly and
Kanpur was recorded between 37 and 38.5 notches.

Intermittent rains accompanied by cool breeze brought
down temperature in various parts of Himachal Pradesh with the
mercury settling at a comfortable 15 degrees in capital
Shimla.

Sundernagar recorded a minimum of 15.1 degrees followed
by Dharamsala, which registered a high of 16.3. Kalpa in
Kinnaur district bordering China recorded the lowest
temperature of 4.2 degrees.

Meanwhile, heat wave continued to sweep Rajasthan with
Churu being the hottest at 48.5 degrees.

Bikaner recorded a maximum of 48 degrees, followed by
Srigangangar (46.5), Pilani (46.1), Jaisalmer (45.7) and
Jaipur (45). PTI TEAM