New Delhi: Another spell of rain and thundershowers lashed Delhi and its neighbouring areas on Monday night bringing down the temperature.
Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted that Delhi is likely to witness another spell of thunderstorms and heavy rain on Monday night.
On Monday morning too Delhiites woke up to thunderstorm and rain with strong gusty winds blowing at 80 kmph. The spell of rain pulled down the minimum temperature in the city to 17.2 degrees Celsius, nine notches below the season’s average.
It is the lowest minimum recorded after May 1, 2004, when the temperature stood at 16.7 degrees Celsius.
The morning weather conditions, according to IMD was due to a western disturbance affecting the hill states of north and northwest India along with an extra-tropical weather system approaching from north Pakistan.
The rain caused heavy traffic snarls in Delhi and its adjoining areas as waterlogging was reported from several places. Flight operations at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport were severely affected in the morning due to the weather conditions.
According to IMD forecast, he maximum temperature in the city is likely to remain below the 40 degrees Celsius mark till May 26, which will provide huge relief to Delhiites reeling under scorching heat for some time.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms also lashed parts of Uttar Pradesh on Monday in which five people lost their lives , said officials as reported by news agency PTI.
Heatwave conditions are going to abate from most parts of the country during the next five days, barring West Rajasthan.
(With agency inputs)