Parts of northern India got some respite from sweltering heat with isolated rain bringing the mercury down. After a week's delay, monsoon finally hit eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh with several areas witnessing light to moderate Rainfall. Although Agra and Orai sizzled at 47.2 degrees, the weatherman predicts the mercury to fall with rain and thundershowers expected to occur over most parts of the state. <br/>The mercury dropped by two to four degrees in parts of northwest Rajasthan with pre monsoon activity in the region. The Met department predicts the monsoon to hit the desert state by the end of this month.<br/>Overnight rains also lashed parts of Himachal Pradesh causing the mercury to dip by 2 to 4 degrees and triggering landslides at many places disrupting normal life. <br/>Heat wave conditions prevailed in north Madhya Pradesh, isolated places in west Jharkhand and Haryana. The southwest monsoon is nearly 10 days behind its normal schedule over north India but is expected to strengthen with the formation of a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal. Light showers and hailstorms brought the temperatures down in parts of Haryana and Punjab with the maximum settling at 37 degrees in Ludhiana.<br/>Mercury also came down in the national capital with pre monsoon showers across the city.<br/>