PRAYAGRAJ, June 21 -- After a brief respite from the heat following rain and strong winds on Friday evening, residents of the Sangam city once again grappled with intense heat and humidity on Saturday. Bright sunshine pushed the maximum temperature close to 42 degrees Celsius, making conditions uncomfortable throughout the day. From early morning, scorching sunshine coupled with high humidity caused considerable discomfort to residents, who struggled to cope with the oppressive conditions. According to noted weather expert and former head of the department of geography at Allahabad University, prof BN Mishra, the weakening of the El Nino effect has affected both the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal branches of the southwest monsoon, leading to a prolonged spell of hot and humid weather. "Currently, there are no indications of the monsoon reaching the Ganga plains over the next three to four days. Although the maximum temperature is expected to remain below 44degC, the combination of heat and humidity will continue to cause discomfort," Mishra said. He further explained that the El Nino phenomenon has impacted both the volume and speed of moisture-laden winds, delaying the arrival of the monsoon by nearly three to four days in the region. "The recent weather fluctuations could significantly affect Kharif crops, particularly paddy sowing, which depends heavily on the timely onset of the monsoon," he added. A spell of rain accompanied by strong winds lashed the city for nearly 30 minutes on Friday evening, providing temporary relief from the sweltering heat....