New Delhi, July 01: Monsoon rains on Tuesday cooled several parts of the country, including the national capital, bringing smiles on the faces of people who were reeling under the unbearable heat wave.
People rejoiced and many of them did not miss the opportunity to drench themselves in the welcome showers. “The monsoon has reached Delhi and has also covered almost the entire country,” Ajit Tyagi, director-general of India Meteorological Department, said.
“But for parts of northwest Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, monsoon has covered the entire country,” he said.
The capital received 6.8 mm of rains between 5.30 pm yesterday and 8.30 am today. The minimum temperature dropped by over four notches to touch 25 degrees Celsius as against yesterday’s 29.2. Though Delhi had missed its June 29 date with monsoon, the city has been receiving showers in the past three days.
The southwest monsoon, a necessity for a good harvest, also advanced to Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and most parts of Haryana and Punjab. Farmers in Punjab and Haryana hoped the rains will ensure proper sowing of crops like paddy which otherwise was facing delay.
In West Bengal’s Burdwan district, five persons, including three children, were killed and two injured when lightning struck them as they were waiting under a tree for the rains to stop.
In Uttar Pradesh, one person was killed and 12 others were due to a thunderstorm. Intermittent showers lashed many parts of Jammu and neighbouring areas bringing much needed relief to the people who were reeling under heat wave conditions for past several days.
Heat wave conditions prevailed at isolated places in northwest Rajasthan. In the regions where the southwest monsoon is yet to set in, day temperatures were normal.
The southwest monsoon has been vigorous in Bihar and active in Haryana and Punjab. It has been subdued over Tamil Nadu and north Karnataka.
Parts of Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have witnessed moderate to light showers since the last couple of days. Rainfall in Cherrapunjee since yesterday was recorded as 28.6 cm, Met officials said.
Finally, monsoon arrives in Delhi
The much-awaited monsoon finally made a bow in the national capital this morning, bringing cheer to residents who were braving an intense heat wave for the past one week.
Hitting a day later than its usual onset in the city, the annual rains would mean a huge relief for residents as well as the administration, which is fighting an acute power and water shortage.
Various parts of the capital received rains since last evening, which led to a dip in the mercury to a pleasant 25 degree celsius, the MeT Office said. The city received monsoon showers in the morning and evening.
The rain gauges of the Weather Office have measured 6.8 mm of showers till 8:30 am today. The city has received over 10 mm of rains in the past three days.
The rains also down the maximum temperature to 37.7 degrees but the high humidity level somewhat made life difficult for people during the daytime. The humidity oscillated between and 49 and 87 per cent. The Weatherman said the minimum temperature dropped by over four degrees to touch 25 degrees as against yesterday’s 29.2 degrees.
“The South-West monsoon is further advancing and there will be more rains in the city in next two days. Tomorrow’s maximum and minimum temperature will hover around 36 and 25 degree Celsius respectively,” a MeT official said.
Last year, the maximum had not crossed 40 degrees in June, with the highest of 38.7 degrees being recorded on the first day of the month. Similarly in 2001 the maximum had not crossed the 40-degree mark in the month.
The record for the maximum temperature in June stands at 46.7 degrees experienced on June 17, 1945.
-Agencies