Rain brings relief to Delhiites

Delhi experienced rain on Tuesday, bringing some relief to people from the scorching heat.

The City recorded a rainfall of about 12 mm, and the maximum temperature settled at 40.8 degree Celsius, compared to past one week’s temperature which was hovering above 43 degrees.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 29.5 degree Celsius, while the humidity oscillated between 56 and 36 per cent.

The rain caused no traffic snarls, but the road near Zakhira flyover in west Delhi was flooded. The meteorological department attributed the rain to excessive moisture in the atmosphere.

“The change in weather had no link to an early onset of the monsoon. These are normal showers which take place during June because of excessive moisture in the air with winds coming from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. This is also causing slight rains in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and the national capital region,” said B P Yadav, IMD director.

Met department has predicted partly cloudy sky and light rain in some parts of the city on Wednesday as well. The heat wave is unlikely to return. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be between 41 and 27 degrees respectively.

Monsoon normally reaches Delhi by June-end but according to the weather department, it is too early to say when the capital will get rains.

The southwest monsoon, crucial for agriculture, hit Kerala on Tuesday, with a senior official saying that the four-day delay was not a cause for worry.

Although most parts of the state are receiving moderate to heavy rain for some days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) made the monsoon announcement only on Tuesday. The monsoon accounts for 80 per cent of rainfall in India. Even a minor delay can adversely affect the economy, as about half of India’s farm output comes from crops sown in the June-September rainy season.