Patiala/Karnal, March 21 -- Rain lashed parts of Punjab and Haryana on Friday, leading to a sharp drop in mercury.

The maximum dropped by nearly 7-10 degrees Celsius, according to the MeT. Ambala, Panchkula, Narnaul, Rohtak, Mohali, Patiala, and Rupnagar were among the places which received rain in the two states.

According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Patiala recorded a maximum temperature of 20.3degC.

Experts at the climate change and agricultural meteorology department of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, said March 19 recorded one of the lowest maximum temperatures in five decades.

"The temperature dipped to 20.2degC-making it the coldest March day in the past 56 years. The previous lowest ...