New Delhi, Jul 13 (PTI) As the southwest monsoon showed signs of gaining momentum in the northern belt, showers today drenched large parts of the region lowering temperatures which provided respite to sweating denizens.

Light to moderate showers keet temperatures at bearable levels in rain-deficit North India even as bolts of lightning snuffed out three lives in Uttar Pradesh.

Day temperature in Lucknow, which received 18.1 mm of rains, settled at 34 degree Celsius against yesterday's 35.3 as showers eleswhere in Uttar Pradesh had the desired cooling effect.

Khalilabad had 40 mm of rains, Allahabad 32.6 and Varanasi 10.4 as the weather office forceast heavy downpours in some places in the state tomorrow.

Maximum temperatures stayed below normal at many places in Punjab and Haryana thanks to showers at several places.

Rains occurred in Kalka (32 mm), Bawal (30 mm), Rewari (28 mm), Nawanshahr (16.4 mm), Phillaur (11 mm), Phagwara (12 mm), Madhopur (35 mm) and Shahpurkandi (6.2 mm) much to the delight of the residents.

Karnal, Gurgaon, Pataudi, Rohtak, and Panchkula also received showers as the maximum temperature in Chandigarh, which had 3.6 mm of rains, touched 33.6 degree Celsius.

The high in Ludhiana in Punjab, which had light rains, was 34.2 degrees, down by two notches, as the maximum too stayed comfortable in Patiala at 34.3.

In Himachal Pradesh, the weather was pleasant thanks to overnight showers in most parts of the hill state where Shimla, the Queen of Hills, received 56.3 mm of rains.

Dharamsala recorded 62.8 mm of rains, Sundernagar 38.6 mm, Bhuntar 37.5 mm and Mandi 32.3 mm as occasional breeze blew across several places in the state.

The rains gods too smiled on Rajasthan which received light to moderate showers at several places bringing relief from the searing heat.

Ganganagar in the desert state, however, reeled at a high of 42.6 degree Celsius even as Kota had 24.6 mm of rains, Pilani 20.2 mm, Pink City Jaipur 15.5 and Churu 1.9 mm.

Cloud cover and early morning rains brought respite for Delhiites as the day temperature settled at a high of 34.6 degrees.