Patiala, May 27 -- With rain bringing a much-needed relief from the scorching heat, the power demand in the state plunged by 3,000 megawatts in just two days, data from the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has revealed.

The maximum power demand on Monday afternoon was around 10,500 MW, as against 13,200 MW on Saturday.

As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperatures in the state's southern districts Bathinda, Mansa, Sangrur, Barnala, Patiala, and Malerkotla dropped over 5.1deg C below normal while in adjoining central districts, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, and parts of Ferozepur and Moga, it was down by 3.1degC to 5.0degC below normal, on Monday.

MeT officials said there may ...