Heavy rain lashes several parts of North India

Heavy rain lashed several parts of North India, including the national capital last night. Under the influence of a western disturbance, Delhi experienced rain with strong winds, which is expected to improve the city's air quality. 

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast rain and high-velocity winds in the national capital today. 

The IMD said, the temperature is likely to drop in Delhi from tomorrow and reach single digit. 

A number of flights at IGI Airport in Delhi were diverted yesterday due to heavy rain.

According to Met office, rains are also likely to occur in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

Due to the extreme cold and heavy snowfall in Uttarakhand, all schools have been closed in Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi and Dehradun districts today. 

The state has issued a red for heavy to very heavy snowfall in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Chamoli today. 

The high altitude areas of



Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh including the famous ski resort of Gulmarg experienced moderate snowfall while the plains were lashed by rains yesterday. 

The weatherman has issued an orange warning for the twin Union Territories for today, predicting moderate to heavy snowfall and rain under the influence of Western Disturbance which had hit the region on Wednesday.

The 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed yesterday evening following moderate snowfall in and around Jawahar Tunnel.

Leh in the Ladakh region was the coldest recorded place with a low of minus 10.6 degrees Celsius and a high of 1.6 degrees Celsius. 

In Himachal Pradesh, Cold wave conditions intensified following rain and snowfall in many parts of the state for the last two days.

The higher reaches of the hill-state in Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu and Shimla districts received snowfall whereas several other areas of the state witnessed rain.