New Delhi(PTI): Rains and thunderstorms in Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan brought a sigh of relief to people reeling under the severe heat wave as Delhiites continued to get respite from the torrid sun due to a partly cloudy sky and squall in some places. The maximum temperature in the capital was recorded at 37.8 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal, as against Thursday's 39.8. ]

Moderate to heavy rains brought a sigh of relief to people in Rajasthan with Jodhpur recording 24 mm rainfall accompanied with hailstorms.

Ajmer recorded rainfall of 21.6 mm since last night followed by Jhalawar 13.4 mm. Dholpur was the hottest place in these state with a maximum temperature of 42 degrees.

Maximum temperatures in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh fell sharply with the mercury dipping by about three degrees. In the plains of the region, Hisar settled at a high of 38.4 degrees, followed by 37.6 at Bhiwani, 36.7 at Patiala and 36.1 degrees at Chandigarh.

Strong thunderstorms at several places on Friday afternoon provided relief to the people of the region from torrid heat conditions prevailing in Punjab and Haryana. Day temperatures were appreciably above normal in Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Assam, Meghalaya, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.

Seventy-seven people have died across the country since the onset of summer. While 24 people have died in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh has accounted for 18 deaths, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal 11 each, Jharkhand seven, Gujarat three, Punjab two and Rajasthan one death.