Rain, hailstorm hit Haryana and Punjab; building collapses in Ambala, school timings changed in 6 Haryana districts

Chandigarh: Rain and hailstorm struck several parts of Haryana and Punjab on Wednesday, disrupting normal life and damaging infrastructure. Hail was reported in Haryana’s Kurukshetra and Karnal, while Punjab’s Mohali, Nangal, and Khanna also witnessed hailstorm activity.

Heavy rainfall was recorded in Chandigarh and parts of Haryana, including Faridabad, Sonipat, Ambala, Karnal, Kaithal, Panchkula, and Yamunanagar. Thunderstorms hit Hisar, Jhajjar, Bhiwani, Nuh, Fatehabad, Panipat, and Gurugram.

In Panipat, strong winds caused significant damage, while in Ambala, part of a building collapsed. A tree was uprooted in Kaithal, blocking a road. In Pundri (Kaithal), a BSNL tower collapsed onto a house due to high-speed winds.

Meanwhile, extreme heat gripped parts of Haryana earlier in the day, with Sirsa recording a maximum of 47°C — the highest temperature of the season so far. Heatwave conditions prevailed in at least 12 districts, including Sirsa, Hisar, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Mahendragarh, Rewari, Gurugram, Faridabad, Palwal, and Nuh.

In response to the severe weather, school timings have been revised in six districts. In Hisar and Charkhi Dadri, classes from 1 to 5 will now run from 7 am to 12 noon, while teachers will remain until 1:30 pm to ensure academic work continues.

All schools from classes 1 to 8 in Sirsa, Fatehabad, and Rewari will also function from 7 am to 12 noon. In Mahendragarh, the new timing will apply to all schools and colleges from class 1 to 12.

Authorities have indicated that more districts may soon adopt revised school timings if heatwave conditions persist.