Rain scare runs deep for farmers

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 16

Farmers are a worried lot as there is no respite from rain, thunderstorm and hailstorm causing damage to crops. The farmers, who are yet to recover from damage caused by rain in March and early April, fear heavy losses to the wheat crop, ready for harvesting, and stone fruit, which has crossed the bud-breaking stage.

The Rabi crops have suffered 10 per cent damage in February and March but more rain after mid-April will spell doom for farmers.

The hailstorm and thunderstorm during April are considered damaging for stone fruits which have crossed the bud-breaking stage while the rain can shatter the hopes for the bumper Rabi crop this year.

The tribal Kinnaur district remained cut off from rest of the state by road for the second time due to massive landslide at Nugalsari and efforts are being made to make the road clear for vehicles by cutting the hill side, said officials.

The MeT office has forecast that except on April 18, the region will be lashed by rain, thunderstorm and hailstorm till April 20, which has added to the anxiety of farmers as wheat is ready and continued wet spell can also affect the quality of grain and increase the moisture, experts said.

The region had widespread rain in the past 24 hours and Bhoranj was the wettest with 52 mm of rain followed by Bijahi 51 mm, Aghar 50 mm, Baldwara 37mm, Berthin 33 mm, Palampur and Solan 32 mm each, Nahan 31 mm, Shimla 28 mm, Kangra and Jogindernagar 27 mm each, Pandoh 26 mm, Paonta Sahib 24 mm, Sundernagar, Bilaspur and Karsog 23 mm each, Bhuntar 18 mm, Mandi 16 mm, Hamirpur 15 mm, Dharamsala 11 mm and Una 10 mm.

The maximum day temperature plummeted by 7 degrees after overnight rain and Nahan and Una recorded a high of 22.9 degree and 22.8 degree while the maximum temperature dropped to 22.6 degree at Dharamsala, followed by Bhuntar 21.5 degree, Sundernagar 20 degree and Solan 19.8 degree. Shimla, which received 28 mm rain, recorded a high of 14 against 22 degree yesterday, followed by Kalpa 10.2 degree C.