Heavy rain swamps West, North

An unusual deep low pressure zone that picked up loads of moisture from the Arabian Sea triggered copious rains almost all over north and western India in the last two days before moving east on Monday afternoon.

As a result, eastern India is likely to experience more rain on Tuesday, while the wet areas in north and western India and the upper reaches of the Himalayas may get relief, weathermen said.

A fresh round of snow blanketed the Himalayas over the last 24 hours, while few light showers dampened the west coast.

The incessant monsoon-type rain, which began on Sunday afternoon in Delhi, is caused by the western disturbances (WD) – an extra-tropical storm or low pressure zone that originated in the Mediterranean and moved in the upper atmosphere.

The WD is common in the Indian subcontinent. It is distinctly different from the tropical cyclones that happen during the monsoon season at a lower altitude and should not be mixed up.

“By Monday evening, the weather system has begun moving towards the east. The west and the north may get less rain on Tuesday, but downpour is expected in parts of eastern India,” said another weather scientist, who analysed the satellite images. In the last 24 hours, Delhi rain led to an eight degree drop in the maximum temperature.

The minimum temperatures fell in east Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and east Uttar Pradesh and changed little elsewhere. The lowest minimum temperature in the plains was 9.4 degrees Celsius recorded at Amritsar.

Swine flu scare in Gujarat

The unseasonal rain that lashed parts of Gujarat on Sunday and resultant drop in temperature has left the medical fraternity and state government worried. Their main concern is containment of swine flu spread.

“The unwarranted changes in the season means the number of cases of swine flu will rise dramatically and its real impact will be felt in the coming week,” Dr Pravin Garg, physician, told Deccan Herald.

Medical Education Minister Nitin Patel said the state government had initiated a survey to assess crop damage and would extend statutory relief to the farmers once done. 

Crop damage

In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday asked divisional commissioners and district collectors to assess the crop damage due to rain.

“There has been extensive damage. In Yavatmal district alone, crops in nearly 17,000 hectares has been damaged,” Fadnavis said after a review.

In Rajasthan, heavy rain coupled with hailstorm on Monday damaged standing crops, especially in the western parts.The rain, however, brought cheer to the farmers as production of Rabi crop is likely to increase by 12-15 per cent.
DH News Service