Black pepper prices continued to rule firm with the market turning purely one for sellers. Dealers from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, bought from primary markets in Kerala and Karnataka prices quoted by the sellers. At theKochimarket (Kerala), pepper prices were Rs 700-720 per kg. Pepper prices may touch Rs 1000 per kg, said the traders.
The southwest monsoon is still over three weeks away but South India is already dealing with flooding rains. Torrential, unusual rain, accompanied by strong winds, triggered by a well- marked low pressure over Kanyakumari, once again lashed parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, crippling normal life.
According to latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, more downpour during the next 48 hours is likely in Kerala and Karnataka. Though, rain in Tamil Nadu will now start reducing. Our weathermen also inform that the area of low pressure is now becoming increasingly organized and may also intensify further into a depression.
Some of the cities in Kerala which recorded rain in the last 24 hours were: Kochi – 191.6 mm, Kozhikode – 87.7 mm, Alapuzha – 85.4 mm, Kottayam – 71.4 mm, Thiruvananthapuram – 6 mm, Kannur – 8.6 mm and Punalur – 8.2 mm of rain.
Rain was heavier and even more widespread in Tamil Nadu : Coonoor – 117.9 mm, Kanyakumari – 110.9 mm, Kodaikanal – 69.2 mm, Palainkottai – 40.4 mm, Pamban – 51.3 mm, Tiruchirappalli – 49 mm, Vellore – 41.2 mm, Tondi – 39.2 mm, Nagapattinam – 33.6 mm, Madurai – 24.2 mm, Karaikal – 22.8 mm, Cuddalore – 20 mm, Salem – 10.8 mm and Chennai – 1.2 mm.
“Such heavy rain is unusual and unseasonal. South India in the month of April and May observes pre-monsoon rain and thunderstorm activities, but torrential rain from a weather system, even in the parched and rain starved areas of interior Tamil Nadu is uncommon”, says G.P Sharma of Skymet Meteorology Division in India.
Aftermath of rain
In the last 24 hours, as a clutch of thundery showers drifted in across Kerala and Tamil Nadu from the Bay of Bengal, incessant rain occurred (over 100 mm in pockets) and brought many roads and low-lying areas under knee-deep water in several parts of the states. Trees uprooted by heavy winds caused traffic snarls in many areas. Police and fire force were geared up to remove fallen branches of trees.
As the sea is expected to be rough due to strong winds, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea during the period.
These extensive summer showers have brought a welcome relief to the Kerala electricity board. The power consumption, which registered an unprecedented rise by up to 70 million units on Saturday, 2nd May, came down to 63 mu on Monday, 4th May. Consumers have cut down the use of air conditioners and fans as continuous rain in Kerala has brought down the heat. Electricity consumption in Kerala had increased by over 15% due to temperatures nearing 40⁰C in the last few days.
These summer showers are expected to increase the level of water in reservoirs which were seen going dry in the last few days. Karnataka, where 93% of lakes and tanks have dried up would breath a sigh of relief. The water crisis was also brewing in Madurai in Tamil Nadu as it was expected by the Public Works Department that the drinking water storage in Vaigai dam may not last beyond 5th May.
Followed by unexpected heavy rains in Tamil Nadu, bathing has been banned in the famous Coutrallam falls in Tamil Nadu. Officials said they had banned taking bath in the Coutrallam and Indharuvi (five falls) in view of heavy water flow. The falls located in Tenkasi is a major attraction for tourists and has been clocking large arrivals in view of summer vacation in recent days.
According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the weather in Delhi is expected to become more hot compared to last few days as day temperatures are set to rise further. Heating is likely to increase under clear sky conditions. There is not much weather activity in the region during the period and the continuation of westerly winds could again send maximums soaring beyond 40°C.
According to the latest forecast, the day temperature in Delhi on Wednesday surged almost three notches higher than Tuesday to settle at 38.6°C. Though, it is still below normal, the expected rise in temperature will keep the maximum above the month's average of 39.6°C. The following table shows day temperatures in the last five days have settled below or near the average.
| Days | Maximum temperature |
| Saturday | 38.6°C |
| Sunday | 39.7°C |
| Monday | 38.2°C |
| Tuesday | 35.8°C |
| Wednesday | 38.6°C |
The minimum temperature in Delhi on Thursday morning was recorded at 25.2°C. And the latest weather forecast by Skymet Meteorology Division in India does not indicate towards any significant change in the morning temperature for the next two days. The following table shows the minimum temperatures of Delhi for the last five days (since 4th May).
| Days | Minimum temperature |
| Sunday | 24.5°C |
| Monday | 26°C |
| Tuesday | 23.1°C |
| Wednesday | 24.2°C |
| Thursday | 25.2°C |
Photograph by John Haslam
Day temperatures in northwest plains have started to show a rising trend and the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India indicates that the temperatures in northwest plains i.e. Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and west Uttar Pradesh would rise further in the next 48 hours.
The weather forecast by Skymet Meteorology Division in India shows westerly winds reaching further into the region on Wednesday and raising the maximums that were below normal for the last couple of days. The weather will continue remain hot and dry for the next two days, as these winds will continue to sweep across the region. Change in the weather condition in northwest plains will be witnessed by the start of next week as a Western Disturbance will affect the region thereafter.
According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, day temperatures in Allahabad and Varanasi in east Uttar Pradesh and Patna in Bihar would witness a rise to make the conditions very hot during afternoon.
Gujarat, some parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in Central India are also experiencing westerly winds. Maximums may remain higher than normal in these places. However, southern parts of Maharashtra, Vidarbha and south Chhattisgarh could also witness rain due to an active low pressure in South India.
A north south trough of low extending from sub-Himalayan West Bengal to Bay of Bengal and a cyclonic circulation over Assam will keep pulling moist southwesterly winds to the northeast region. So, pre-monsoon rain will continue over Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Nagaland.
According to the latest weather update, the well-marked low pressure area would continue to bring rain in Kerala and Karnataka. The weather system will weaken after entering the land in the next 24 hours. It will move east-northeastwards and the rain belt will shift towards Rayalaseema and north coastal Andhra Pradesh.
According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the tropical low pressure area, which became a well marked area overnight will continue to pound Kerala, south coastal Karnataka with rain and strong winds for the next 24 hours, while the intensity of pre-monsoon rain will reduce in Tamil Nadu.
In the next 4 to 12 hours, moderate to heavy rain and thundershowers are likely at many places over Chikmagalur, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Kodagu, Shimoga and Uttara Kannada districts of Karnataka with strong winds ranging between 60 kmph and 100 kmph,” said a weather alert issued by Skymet Meteorology Division in India at 9:29 am on Thursday.
In an earlier alert issued at 5:50 pm on Wednesday, the Skymet Meteorology Division in India had said that moderate to heavy rain and thundershowers are expected to occur at most of the places in Kerala, Karnataka, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu and Telangana with strong winds ranging between 40 kmph and 60 kmph during the next 48 to 72 hours. It also said that the weather conditions could be alarming at isolated places as rain could be very heavy and in excess of 100 mm.
Meanwhile, the latest weather update issued by Skymet informs that the weather system is yet to enter the land and is close to north Kerala and south coastal Karnataka. It will shift towards the land during the next 24 hours. And after entering the land, the weather system will lose its steam however, it will still give rain in most parts of South India.
Photograph by druvaraj
Several reports of farmer suicides urged the government to take measures to alleviate the pain of farmers and provide sufficient aid.
Till the 20th of March, severe hailstorm in Maharashtra had affected more than 15,000 villages across the state. Several farmers in the state approached the state government to waive off all loans, electricity bills and other recoveries from the affected farmers.
Farming completely collapsed in several parts of the state and crops including wheat, rice, corn, maize, groundnuts, jowar, mustard and onion were majorly affected. Hailstorms in Maharashtra left its impact on horticultural products like orange, papaya, mango, banana and sweet melon as well. Hailstorm in Satana in Nashik district severely affected grape and pomegranate cultivations. All these Rabi crops were either at harvesting or developing stage and some got damaged due to hailstorm and others due to untimely rain.
Damage caused
Due to the confluence of winds from both sides of peninsular India, places in Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha were lashed by heavy rain and hailstorms during the first two weeks of March and a couple of times in April. Among the worst hit places were the villages of Chandori, Karanjgaon, Saikheda, Tamaswadi. Adding to the woes of people, several houses were damaged which wreaked havoc.
According to information gathered through Right to Information Act, a total area of 1,769,403 hectares was directly affected and the petitioners claimed Rs. One lakh per acre. Thus the total loss can be pegged at about Rs. 42,000 cores approximately. But the state government had appealed to the Centre to provide just about Rs. 5,000 crore for rehabilitation.
Financial Aid and Restoration
In the beginning of this month, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan repudiated all allegations of not extending a helping hand to hailstorm affected farmers and disbursed financial aid to them.
The Centre on 19th March had sanctioned Rs. 844 crore for relief to affected farmers in Maharashtra after being affirmed from the Election Commission. The Centre had released Rs. 630 crore as subsidies for small and marginal farmers, while farmers involved in bigger agricultural tracts received Rs. 214 crore.
On the occasion of Maharashtra Day celebrations, held to commemorate 1st May, 1960 when Maharashtra attained statehood, the Chief Minister safeguarded the state government and told to media that it is difficult to manage financial aid in such a short time span. He also said, "even while the code of conduct was in force, we asked for help from Union agriculture minister and the Central government. I have never heard of any other state asking and receiving help in such a short period of time."
The state government has also taken preventive measures for battling a less than normal monsoon in India, specially in parts of Maharashtra and have already provided tankers to meet drought like conditions in several places.
picture courtesy- Mid-day
