Farmers worried as storm, intermittent rain lash Himachal

Tribune News Service
Shimla, May 3

Freak weather conditions continued to prevail in the hills and valleys of Himachal as thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds accompanied by intermittent showers lashed the region for the third consecutive day.

Farmers and fruit growers are a worried lot as local MeT office has issued fresh yellow warning of thunderstorm, lightning and gusty winds with speed of 30 to 40 kmph in mid and lower hills on May 6 and 7 and predicted wet spell in the region over the next six days.

Stormy conditions and rain are harmful for standing wheat and apple and stone fruit crops as Rabi crop is yet to be harvested in mid and higher hills while the harvested crop lying in the open has been damaged due to rains.

A severe thunderstorm accompanied by sharp showers swept Shimla and its surrounding areas. Dark clouds overcast the sky, reducing visibility drastically disrupting vehicular traffic.

Widespread to moderate rains lashed several parts of the state. Narkanda was the wettest with 34.5 mm while Shimla and Bangana received 27 mm and 19 mm rains followed by Kotkhai 19 mm, Bajura 16 mm, Sangrah and Rajgarh 14 mm, Kandaghat and Hamirpur 8 mm, Mandi 7 mm and Janjehli 6 mm.

The day temperatures dropped by few notches. Una, which was hottest on the region, recorded a high of 37.6 degree, followed by Nahan 32.5 degree, Bhuntar 30.5 degree, Solan 29.5 degree and Shimla 23.0 degree while Keylong and Kalpa in tribal areas recorded a high of 20.5 degree and 17.1 degree.

The minimum temperatures fluctuated marginally and Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts recorded minimum temperature at 4.4 degree and 6.8 degree followed by Shimla 9.9 degree, Manali 10.0 degree, Nahan 18.9 degree and Una 22.8 degree.

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