Chandigarh, Apr 14 (UNI) As wheat harvesting picks up momentum in Punjab and Haryana, temperatures in the region have begun to soar, leading to tripping of power supply in several cities and towns of the two states.

Hisar in Haryana was the hottest place in the NorthwWest with maximum temperature touching the 40 degree Celcius mark today.

This was three to four degrees above normal.

Elsewhere in the region, the day temperatures remained two to three degrees above normal. Even the night temperatures were two to four degrees above normal at most places in the region.

In Punjab, Patiala turned out to be the warmest place at 38.4 degree Celsius, four degrees above normal. The industrial town of Ludhiana recorded a maximum of 35.0 degrees while Amritsar was normal at 33.0 degrees.

The Union Territory of Chandigarh was fairly warm at 37.4 degrees celsius, three degrees above normal.

In the hill state of Himachal Pradesh, the day and night temperatures have also begun to soar. Shimla was fairly warm at 22.6 degrees, four degrees above normal.

The met office has predicted light showers accompanied by high speed winds at isolated places in Punjab and Haryana.

UNI HS GL ND1840