Hailstorm, heavy downpour wreak havoc in many parts
   Date :20-Mar-2020

Hailstorm_1  H
 Hail lying on ground after the sudden hailstorm and downpour in the region on Thursday.  An uprooted tree fell on a car due to hailstorm on Thursday. (Pics by Anil Tiwari)
 
Staff Reporter :
 
According to weather forecast rain and hailstorm is likely to occur in isolated areas of division in next 24 hours
 
 
AS THE entire region is already combating with the novel coronavirus scare, hell broke loose after heavy rainfall and hailstorm lashed different parts of the city and adjoining rural areas also. People started rushing to safer places in panic. Low-lying areas of the city were inundated in rain water. Fields were covered with hails. At many areas size of hailstones was as big as berry and lemon. Hailstones and heavy downpour kept lashing the area for about 30 minutes.
 
A layer of hails was lying over land in many areas. Even glass panes of many vehicles were damaged. Hailstorm with high velocity winds caused uprooting of trees at some places. The south-eastern wind was blowing with a speed of 6 to 7 kms per hour. People were surprised when the clouds suddenly disappeared by afternoon. It appeared like a normal sunny day with clear sky. Maximum temperature recorded on Thursday was 24.4 degrees Celsius which is 11 degrees less than normal maximum temperature. Whereas, maximum temperature recorded on the same day previous year was 32.5 degrees Celsius. According to Meteorological Department, western disturbance and low pressure area was created over Maharashtra that suddenly changed the weather.
 
Apart from this, snowfall in Himalayan states led to fall in mercury resulting in hailstorm. Minimum temperature recorded on Thursday was 16 degrees Celsius which was 2 degrees less than normal minimum temperature. Whereas, minimum temperature recorded on the same day previous year was 17 degrees Celsius. While people were expecting rise in temperature which is considered helpful in controlling spread of coronavirus, sudden dip in mercury has made people panicky. Besides Jabalpur, hailstorm also hit Sihora, Majhoi, Katangi, Chargawan, Patan blocks and Katni district.
 
Incessant rainfall occurred in Kundam block. Panic stricken peasants went superstitious and resorted to ritual of blowing conch as many villagers still believe that blowing of conch can prevent them from any natural calamity. A total 2.6 mm rainfall was recorded, whereas 24.8 mm rainfall had occurred from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm on Thursday. In this way a total 27.4 mm rainfall has occurred in this season so far. According to weather forecast rain and hailstorm is likely to occur in isolated areas of division in next 24 hours. Peasants are feeling helpless as they can do nothing as their crops were ruined in the sudden hailstorm. Besides loss of crops, hails damaged roofs, tiles and sheets in many areas.