Moderate rains lashed several areas of Punjab and Haryana on Sunday, providing some relief amid a challenging monsoon season, according to the Meteorological Department. Sirsa in Haryana recorded the highest rainfall at 49.5 mm between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM, while other spots like Panipat (10.5 mm) and Mewat (1 mm) also saw precipitation.

In Punjab, Amritsar received 3.7 mm, Ludhiana 2.4 mm, and Patiala 9.2 mm, with additional showers in Faridkot, Pathankot, and Ferozepur. These rains come as Punjab endures one of its worst flood crises in decades, driven by swollen rivers and rivulets.

The floods stem from heavy upstream rainfall in the catchment areas of the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, leading to widespread inundation. Officials have warned of potential escalation with continued monsoon activity, urging residents in low-lying areas to stay vigilant. Haryana, sharing similar river systems, has also reported localised flooding, though Sunday's rains were relatively mild.

Meteorologists attribute the intense weather to active monsoon troughs, with forecasts predicting scattered showers over the next few days. This follows a pattern of erratic rains in northwest India, amplified by climate change, which has increased flood frequency and severity in agrarian states like Punjab and Haryana.

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Authorities are monitoring river levels closely, with relief operations underway in affected districts. The IMD advises precautions against waterlogging and landslides as communities recover from crop losses and infrastructure damage from earlier deluges.

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