Rain and Hail Disrupt North India as Heatwave Persists in Parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh

A sudden spell of rain, hailstorms, and thunderstorms brought relief from the scorching heat in several parts of North and Central India on Thursday, even as Gujarat’s Rajkot emerged as the hottest place in the country with a maximum temperature of 42.9 degrees Celsius.

The contrasting weather patterns highlighted the unpredictable nature of the pre-monsoon season, with heavy downpours reported in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, while hail lashed parts of Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.

Rain batters eastern UP districts

Heavy rain lashed several districts of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, including Banda, Bijnor, Shahjahanpur, Kanpur Dehat, and Mahoba. In Bijnor, a CCTV tower installed along a road collapsed due to strong winds and rain, leading to a temporary power outage in the area. Local authorities rushed to the spot to restore normalcy.

In Barabanki, slippery road conditions triggered a major accident involving two double-decker buses, a DCM truck, and several other vehicles. One person from Basti district died on the spot, police said. Traffic movement was affected on the highway for several hours following the incident.

Bihar districts receive heavy showers

Bihar also witnessed intense rainfall in at least five districts, including Jamui. Reports of hailstorms accompanied the rain in some areas, causing damage to standing crops and orchards. Farmers expressed concern over possible losses even as the showers brought down temperatures temporarily.

Hailstorms hit Rajasthan

Weather turned dramatic in Rajasthan during the afternoon hours, with rain and hail reported in Alwar, Tonk, and Kotputli-Behror districts. Hailstones of considerable size were seen in several pockets, startling residents. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a possible rise of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in maximum temperatures across the state in the coming days.

Thunderstorms grip Madhya Pradesh

In Madhya Pradesh, rain accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds continued for the seventh consecutive day. Gwalior, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Niwari, and Tikamgarh received fresh spells on Thursday. However, heatwave conditions are expected to persist in as many as 44 districts, including the major cities of Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, and Jabalpur.

Snowfall alert in Himachal

Himachal Pradesh recorded rainfall in several places including Shimla, Jubbarhatti, Sundernagar, and Kangra. Lightning strikes were also reported. Sarahan in Sirmaur district received the highest 24-hour rainfall of 20 mm. The meteorological department has issued a yellow alert for rain and snowfall in upper reaches of Kinnaur and Mandi districts from May 11 to 13.

Fresh snowfall was recorded in Kedarnath on Thursday, while Pithoragarh received 18 mm of rain and Song in Bageshwar recorded 12 mm.

Uttarakhand braces for more rain

Rain and snowfall are likely to continue in higher reaches of Uttarakhand, particularly in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Bageshwar, and Pithoragarh districts in the coming days.

Two-day weather outlook

The IMD has forecast rain with strong winds (30-50 kmph) in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand on May 9. Thunderstorms and rain are likely in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal may also witness rain with lightning risk.

On May 10, light rain and thunder are expected in parts of Uttarakhand, while isolated thunderstorms are likely in areas around Pathankot, Rupnagar, and Mohali in Punjab. Southern and central Bihar may again see thunderstorms with rain.

Mixed impact on daily life

While the rain brought much-needed respite from the intense heat in many regions, it also caused temporary disruptions to road and power infrastructure. Farmers in rain-hit areas remain cautiously optimistic, hoping the precipitation does not damage rabi crops at the harvesting stage. Officials have urged people to avoid venturing out during thunderstorms and lightning.

The sharp variation in weather across North and Central India underscores the challenges posed by changing climate patterns during the transition to the monsoon season.