Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): A fresh spell of monsoon rain has intensified across Punjab, with Pathankot witnessing heavy showers and several other districts expected to receive rainfall over the next few days. The weather office has forecast wet conditions in Punjab and Chandigarh through August 19, while a yellow alert remains in force for parts of the region.
The weather has also disrupted rail movement between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Four train services on the Pathankot-Baijnath Paprola section have been cancelled after heavy rain and falling debris affected railway tracks in the Kangra Valley.
Pathankot sees intense rainfall
Pathankot has been among the areas most affected by the latest weather spell, with heavy rain reported since morning.
The Meteorological Centre has forecast rainfall across Punjab, with isolated heavy showers possible in Pathankot, Hoshiarpur and Rupnagar.
Moderate rain may occur at some places in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib and Patiala.
Other districts, including Ferozepur, Fazilka, Faridkot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Moga, Bathinda, Barnala and Mansa, may also receive isolated light to moderate showers.
Thunderstorms and gusty winds could accompany rainfall at some locations.
Four trains suspended amid Kangra Valley disruption
Heavy rain in Himachal Pradesh has caused problems on the narrow-gauge railway connecting Pathankot with the Kangra Valley.
Railway officials said falling stones and rain-related damage to tracks have disrupted movement on the Pathankot-Baijnath Paprola section. Four services — 52467, 52470, 52474 and 52465 — have been cancelled until further orders.
There have also been changes to the routes of two other services.
Train 52464, which normally operates from Baijnath Paprola to Jawalamukhi Road, will now terminate at Koparlahar. Train 52469 will start from Koparlahar instead of Jawalamukhi Road.
Restoration teams have been deployed and repair work is being carried out on priority to restore the affected railway stretches.
Mercury stays above normal despite rain forecast
The rain forecast has not yet translated into a major drop in temperatures across Punjab.
The state’s average maximum temperature rose by 0.7°C in the past 24 hours and remained 2.7°C above the normal mark. Patiala recorded the highest temperature at 37.2°C.
With more cloud cover and rain expected, temperatures may moderate in the coming days.
Bay of Bengal system to influence weather
The Meteorological Centre said the monsoon trough continues to influence weather conditions over northern India. A low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is also expected to play a role in the developing weather pattern over the region.
An active Western Disturbance is adding to the instability, creating conditions favourable for showers, thunderstorms and strong winds.
The combination of these systems is expected to keep Punjab and Chandigarh under the influence of unsettled weather until August 19.
Authorities are likely to keep a close watch on low-lying and vulnerable areas as rainfall activity increases, while commuters travelling towards Himachal Pradesh may need to account for weather-related disruptions on road and rail routes.
