Shimla, April 30: A severe hailstorm accompanied by heavy rains lashed the capital city of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, reducing visibility and disrupting normal traffic.

The local meteorological station has also issued an orange warning of heavy rainfall, thunderstorm, lightning and hail storm over plains, low and mid hills on May 1 and 2, which might cause damage to standing crops, fruit plants and new plantings. Maharashtra Weather Update: IMD Issues Rain Alerts for Mumbai, Thane and Palghar During Next 3-4 Hours.

The MeT office predicted light to moderate rainfall at many places in the state on May 2 and 3 as a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from the night of May 1. Weather Forecast and Update: IMD Predicts Heavy Rainfall Over Several Parts Of India During Next Few Days, Hailstorm Likely In Delhi, Punjab.

The maximum temperature stayed two to seven degrees below normal in the state, with Una being the hottest at 34.6 degrees Celsius. The continued wet spell and low temperatures are causing anxiety to farmers and horticulturists as stormy conditions, hailstorms and rains are harmful for crops.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)