MeT Deptt issues ‘red alert’, flash flood like situation in Raigarh, Korba, Surguja

 

 

 

 

Moving to top gear, Southwest Monsoon, now after thoroughly activating all over Chhattisgarh, has completely drenched the entire state, even as overnight downpour continued to lash the capital city and other parts, till Wednesday night. So much so that, the Meteorological Department (MeT), looking into the weather phenomenon, has issued ‘red alert’ for ‘flash flood’ like situation in Raigarh, Korba and even in the rain-deficient Surguja division, thereby prompting the authorities to gear up for any inclement weather-generated contingencies. The MeT department warning also sets a tone for the common people to be ready for embracing the monsoon fury with their protective gears like raincoat and umbrellas, and in worst case, to stay indoors, for next 48 hours, since ‘heavy to very heavy’ rainfall coupled with thunderstorm and lightning, may occur in Chhattisgarh.

 

As per the official statistics availed by MeT officials, the past 24 hours witnessed Kusmi, a small administrative block in Balrampur district of Surguja division, recording highest 180 mm rainfall. Similarly, Rajpur, Ambikapur, Pratapppur, Shankargarh, all four under Surguja division, Saraipali and Basna, both in Mahasamund district of Raipur division, have recorded 90 mm rainfall. Likewise, Pithora in Mahasamund district and Premnagar in Surajpur district of Surguja division accounted for 80 mm rainfall. Janakpur village in Koriya district and Arang Tehsil of Raipur district received 70 mm each during the past 24 hours. “Raipur in particular recorded 29.5 mm rains, which continues to lash all around since Tuesday evening,” the MeT authorities added. According to the authorities, the rain showers also drastically brought down the maximum temperature mark by 5 degrees in Raipur, Bilaspur and Pendraroad, whereas another 4 degree drop was recorded in Jagdalpur and Durg, which brought great respite to its residents as now they were experience cool weather indoors after experiencing itching and humid climate earlier. “Raipur today recorded a maximum temperature of 26.4 degrees against 29.4 degrees registered the other day, which is a considerable drop by 5 degrees,” they added. Meanwhile, statistics availed from the weather stations fanned across 27 districts of five divisions namely Raipur, Durg, Surguja, Bilaspur and Bastar, affirmed that the whole state, in past two months, following the commencement of monsoon, recorded 533.9 mm rainfall against the normal benchmark of 594.6 mm rains, which is still 10 percent deficient. However, the MeT officials consider the deficiency as normal in meteorology and negligible in layman terms.

 

“Of all the districts, restive Bijapur district, a densely-forested area, recorded a surplus of 1056 mm rainfall, followed by Sukma district accounting for 825.9 mm rainfall, which is the second highest in the entire state. Apropos, Raipur district registered for 676.3 mm rainfall and Balod stood on 4th place in the rainfall receipt table with 644 mm showers. So far, all the four districts have recorded ‘excess’ rainfall receipt, even as Surguja division continues to be tagged as ‘large deficient’ region with only 258 mm rains received so far in past one month, as on the date preceding from June 1st to August 2,” explained the MeT officials. To a query, MeT officials attributed the weather twist to a deep depression over Gangtok West Bengal, which moving west-southwest wards with a speed of 19 kmph, now prevails over Purulia in Jharkhand and Gangtok West Bengal. The deep depression will further transform into depression as it crosses Jharkhand during subsequent 24 hours. “Henceforth, under the influence of the aforesaid weather system, it will result in widespread rains and the phenomenon will last till Aug 7,” they added. However, it is not all ‘jeers’ because the rains have also brought ‘cheers; to farmers across the state as the current weather is perfect for paddy cultivation.