Rains set off cold wave in North

However, experts claimed the developments were not due to southwest monsoon but ‘‘a Western disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir extending into Pakistan’’.

The disturbance is likely to move out of the Indian subcontinent in a day.

Meanwhile, widespread rains submerged and damaged ripened paddy crop in Punjab and Himachal.

Apart from the adverse impact on ripening paddy, the rains are good for rabi sowing that will begin soon.

In Punjab, Ludhiana received 13.4 mm of rains, Patiala 19.8 mm while Ropar, Amritsar, Bhatinda and Faridkot had moderate showers.

The rains also damaged several thousand tonnes of paddy crop yesterday which was lying in different markets across Patiala district.

Karnal in Haryana received a heavy downpour with the city recording 41.2 mm of rains. Showers also lashed Hisar (27.8 mm), Ambala (6 mm) and Panchkula (5 mm).

Chandigarh, which received 5 mm of rains on Saturday, had an overcast sky today.

The higher reaches in Himachal Pradesh — Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Pangi — witnessed heavy snow fall for the second day running creating severe cold wave conditions.

Rohtang Pass, Kunzam Pass and Kangla Jot Pass also received heavy snowfall making these areas inaccessible and held up traffic.

Shimla and its surrounding areas had widespread rains for the third day today with thick fog covering the state. Palampur and Dharamsala were lashed by heavy rains.

Apart from North India, in regions from where southwest monsoon withdrawal has taken place, day temperatures were markedly above normal.

These included parts of North Madhya Pradesh, Uttaranchal, East Rajasthan and Haryana.

Night temperatures were markedly below normal in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and West Rajasthan and West Uttar Pradesh but normal in the rest of the country.

Southwest monsoon continues to be vigorous in Kerala and Orissa.