Hailstorm lashes Punjab, Haryana

CHANDIGARH - Residents of Punjab and Haryana were taken by surprise as thunderstorm followed by a hailstorm lashed the region Friday followed by heavy rainfall.

Even the Met office was taken by surprise as rains are not expected here during this time of the year.

This sudden rainfall is due to the western disturbances in the region of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. We had moderate to heavy rainfall and hailstorms in Chandigarh and in most parts of Punjab including Amritsar, Jalandhar and Nangal. Some parts of Haryana were also lashed by heavy showers, a Met official told IANS.

We cannot call it the advent of winters as this was not predictable and we are also surprised by it. We are expecting the weather condition to get normal by tomorrow morning (Saturday). It would also bring some dip in the mercury, especially during the night, he added.