Hope springs with clouds, fizzles with dust

BATHINDA: All hopes of residents of Bathinda and its adjoining areas of receiving rain today were dashed when the cloud cover didn’t oblige and the region had to settle for only a slight fall in temperature. While the residents woke up to quite a sunny morning, the weather changed a little around noon when cloudy development began in the region, thereby hiding the sun for close to two hours.

Dust storm engulfs the region after cloudy development in the afternoon in Bathinda on Saturday. Photo: Vijay Kumar

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 22

All hopes of residents of Bathinda and its adjoining areas of receiving rain today were dashed when the cloud cover didn’t oblige and the region had to settle for only a slight fall in temperature.

While the residents woke up to quite a sunny morning, the weather changed a little around noon when cloudy development began in the region, thereby hiding the sun for close to two hours.

This was followed by light to medium dust storm in many parts of the region.

The residents heaved a sigh of relief as the region experienced partly cloudy sky and gusty winds.

Although the cloud cover disappointed the residents, the region registered drizzling and that too in scattered areas.

The high velocity winds turned into a dust storm by the afternoon and lowered the temperature by 10 degrees as compared to what it was registered four days ago.

As per the data received from the Agro-met Department of the PAU’s regional centre, the maximum temperature recorded at 44.4 degree Celsius on Tuesday fell to 43.8 degree Celsius on Wednesday, 43.6 degree Celsius on Thursday.

It fell further to 40.8 degree Celsius yesterday and plummeted by six degrees to be recorded at 34.2 degree Celsius today.

However, the minimum temperature didn’t register much change over these four days and hovered around 22 degrees Celsius.

Dusty winds blew at a velocity of 9.2 kmph today.

As per the forecast, the region is poised to experience thunderstorm and lightning in the next 24 hours.

As per the forecast by the Indian Meteorological Department for Bathinda and its adjoining region, the maximum temperature will increase again to around 40 degree Celsius while the minimum temperature will be around 25 degree Celsius.

The region will experience partly cloudy sky towards afternoon or evening tomorrow and over the next four-five days.

Power cuts scheduled

City residents will have to prepare themselves to face power outage tomorrow as well.

As per information received from the Power Department, power supply in Dhobi Bazaar, Sirki Bazaar, Kikar Bazaar, Telian Wala Mohalla, Qila Road, Bank Bazaar, Gandhi Market and Court Road will be shut from 8 am to 5 pm tomorrow. It will be done to carry out maintenance work.