Rain brings respite from heat in Kumaon

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, April 19

Rain in lower valleys and snowfall in  the high Himalayan region  for over an hour, accompanied by hailstones in some parts of  the Kumaon region, today brought relief from scorching heat. Light rain is also considered beneficial for vegetable crops in the hills.

Prahalad  Singh Daryal, a resident of Ralam village in  the Johar valley, said besides rain for about  45 minutes, snowfall was witnessed in higher reaches of the Ralam valley. “The minimum temperature plummeted following the snowfall and 2°C temperature was recorded in the Ralam valley on Tuesday,” said Dariyal.

“The 5 mm rain in the town and surrounding areas today brought cheer to vegetable farmers who can now implant seedlings,” said RK Singh, an agriculture scientist   deputed at KVK, Pithoragarh.

HC Tiwari, District Horticultural Officer, Champawat, said the rain gave nourishment to the recently sown potato crop in Champawat district that faces water shortage. “Meanwhile, slight hailstones damaged vegetable seedlings at some places in the district,” said Tiwari. 

The reports of rain leading to a fall in the temperature, bringing relief from the scorching heat have also been received from Bageshwar district, Bhimtal, apple belt of Ramgarh, fruit and vegetable belt of Okhalkanda and Mukteshwar in Nainital  district and parts of Almora  district.