Untimely rains badly hampered the routine lifestyle of residents in the district, on Saturday. Rainfall occurred in Jabalpur following the western disturbance and active cyclone in southwest Rajasthan. Around 47.6 mm rainfall has been reported since early morning on Saturday. After an hour-long downpour in the early morning, rains continued in regular intervals.

 

The meteorology department had been forecasting rain for the past few days but the intensity of the rain was surprising. According to local weather reports, by 8:30 AM, 25.0 millimetres (1 inch) of rain had been recorded. From 8:30 am to 11:30 am, 13.6 millimetres of rain fell, bringing the total to 38.6 millimetres (1.51 inches) by 11:30 am and 47.6 millimetres till 2:30 pm. Meteorologists have predicted that the next 24 hours could bring more thunderstorms, with the possibility of hail and fog in several parts of the Jabalpur division. n Staff Reporter sudden weather change on Saturday morning brought heavy rainfall, which proved beneficial for crops on unirrigated lands, especially for pulses like chickpea, lentils and wheat.

 

The rain has given these crops a boost with fresh greenery and improved growth. However, the rainfall has caused significant problems at the procurement centres, where farmers were already lined up to sell their produce. The rain has also led to a sharp increase in demand for urea fertiliser and pest control measures like pesticide sprays are expected to be carried out on chickpea and lentil crops. The wheat crop is also benefitting from this weather, as it is ideal for its growth.

 

The morning weather was unlike any in recent years, with the sky darkening by 7 AM. The drop in temperature and increasing humidity created conditions resembling a winter chill. However, the heavy rainfall has left some grains at procurement centres exposed to the risk of getting wet, potentially damaging them. The district administration has made arrangements to protect paddy crops from getting wet, as per the weather department’s warnings. Several procurement centres have covered the rice with tarpaulins, and efforts have been made to move them to warehouses. However, some centres are still showing negligence in safeguarding the crops. Thousands of quintals of paddy in markets at Sihora, Bargi, Shahpura, Patan, Katangi, Majholi and Panagar Majhgawa, have already become wet due to the downpour, making the situation worse for farmers who have been waiting for days to sell their produce. Warehouse and procurement centre officials are warning farmers that if their paddy gets damaged due to rain, it may not be accepted for purchase. At many procurement centres, responsibility for the protection of paddy stored in the open is being placed entirely on the farmers, though, according to regulations, the centre is responsible for monitoring and safeguarding the produce stored inside. The weather is expected to remain unstable for the next few days. As the western disturbance weakens, temperatures are likely to drop, and the region may experience a cold wave starting December 31.