Weather prediction-Light to scattered rainfall till 24th March 

The met department has alerted of light to scattered rains in 12 states as a result of fresh western disturbance. Rains will lash parts of North and Central North East India till March 24. The rainfall is likely to begin from 21st March, snowfall has also been predicted in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and some Himalayan states.

The 12 states to experience rainfall are Rajasthan, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

A yellow-alert has also been issued for several states and fishermen have been urged not to get into the sea.

The rains are likely to dip down the mercury levels giving relief from the intensifying heat. It has also been predicted that seasonal temperature is likely to stay above normal across North India from March till May.