Rain Hailstrom may affect crops in MP

The Pioneer, March 13,2007

The weather took an unexpected turn in Madhya Pradesh with sudden rainfall in the morning hours, on Monday. The unwarranted rains and hailstorm especially in the districts of Rewa, Satna and Jabalpur resulted in huge crop losses to the farmers. Cloudy skies and isolated drizzles were witnessed in the state capital Bhopal throughout the day.

Meanwhile six persons were killed after being struck by lightning in Rewa. According to Bhopal meteorological department director D P Dube, "Upper air cyclonic circulation formed over this State is drawing moisture from the Arabian Sea."

He forecast that isolated drizzles were likely in Bhopal, Guna, Ujjain and Jabalpur divisions and hail was likely in isolated places, during the next 24 hours. Although the movement did not bring about any substantial changes over the day temperature, humidity was experienced in most parts of the State. In Bhopal the temperature on Sunday was 34.7 degrees C, two degrees above normal. The minimum temperature on Sunday night was also not an exception at 18.9 degrees C. The temperature that generally prevails during the beginning of March, around 33 degrees C was recorded at 5.30 p.m. on Monday. Similar was the condition in other major cities in Madhya Pradesh like Indore, Jabalpur and Gwalior.

The rains since Monday morning also failed to bring down mercury levels in Jabalpur. Even on Sunday night the temperature was 21 degrees C, which was around two degrees higher than that of Bhopal. The untimely rains also exposed the poor drainage in Bhopal with major streets getting choked, resulting in flood-like situation in various areas. Such scenes were common in the Old City, including Navbahar, Sabji Mandi and Lakherpura. Residents of Gwalior were blessed with pleasant weather with mild temperature between 25-28 degrees C with night temperatures as low as 17.5 degrees C.