Chandigarh, March 16 (IANS): Rainfall over most areas of Punjab and Haryana brought down the maximum temperatures by three to five degrees on Monday.
Hisar in Haryana received nearly 13 mm rainfall. The maximum temperature was at 24.5 degrees was five degrees below average.
Chandigarh recorded a high of 23 degrees, four degrees below average.
In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a high of 21.5 degrees, five degrees below average.
Farmers in both states were a worried lot with the unseasonal rain.
"This rain is damaging all crops, especially wheat. The crop harvesting begins one month from now and clear and dry weather is required for the crop to ripen. In many areas, the crop has been flattened by rain and hailstorm," said Gurmel Singh, a farmer in Ludhiana district.
Met officials said that the next two days could be largely sunny and dry.