Showers bring respite from dry spell

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 15

Showers on Sunday afternoon came as a blessing for the city residents as it helped wash down dust and particle pollution floating in the air especially after the Diwali night when huge quantities of firecrackers were burnt.

The rain has also increased the chill in the air resulting in a substantial fall in the temperature. However, it surely has worried the farmers whose fields are awaiting wheat sowing. Though a maximum of the wheat crop has already been sown but a large number of fields under basmati crop are lying vacant.

Farmers brave rain, take out ‘mashal’ march to protest farm laws

• Braving cold and showers, farmers continued their protest against the three farm laws at Butari railway station for the 46th consecutive day on Sunday.
• Farmers took out a ‘mashal’ (torch) march to mark the protest. They had also given a call for ‘black’ diwali this year to protest the Centre’s move.
• Farm leaders said their protest would continue despite hostile weather conditions. They admitted that sustaining an indefinite sit-in during the coming days, especially at night would become difficult.

The farmers said the showers would also decrease the germination of wheat seeds in the fields which were sown recently. “The rain would harm the crops which were sown in last two-three days, while the crops which were sown 10-12 days ago, the damage would be much less,” said Jaswinder Singh, a farmer.

However, farmers alike the city residents stated that the dry spell spanning over two months have ended with the showers on Sunday. The rain started around 2 pm with the black clouds covering the entire region and blocking the sunlight from reaching the earth.

In most areas, the vehicle drivers were forced to switch on the headlights abruptly as dark clouds started gathering. A city resident, Nancy Singh, said, “The weather has become lovely with the showers. Even though it was mid-November, the weather was still hot and people had to use air conditioners in cars and fans at night.” She said that now she would be able to wear her heavy winter dresses. The showers washed away pollutants cleansed the air, letting the city chocked on pollution, breathe.