The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast dense fog and mist across many parts of Rajasthan on January 29 and 30, with a further drop in temperatures expected following recent rain and hailstorm activity.
Due to the impact of successive active western disturbances, several districts of Rajasthan witnessed rain and hailstorms on Tuesday, disrupting normal life and causing crop damage in many areas. Districts affected by the inclement weather included Jaipur, Sikar, Churu, Alwar, Khairthal-Tijara, Kota, Tonk, Dausa, Baran, Sawai Madhopur, Bhilwara and Jhalawar.
Meteorological officials said that during the past 24 hours, light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning was recorded at isolated places in eastern Rajasthan. The highest rainfall of 26 mm was reported from Manohar Thana in Jhalawar district. Moderate to dense fog was also observed at a few locations across the state, further affecting visibility.
According to the IMD, the highest maximum temperature in the state was recorded at 28.4 degrees Celsius in Dungarpur, while the lowest minimum temperature stood at 5.7 degrees Celsius in Nagaur.
Apart from hailstorms, intermittent rainfall was reported from several other regions. While the weather activity led to a significant drop in daytime temperatures in urban areas, it caused extensive damage to standing crops in rural belts. Crops such as wheat, barley, gram and mustard were adversely affected, raising serious concerns among farmers.
Rainfall recorded over the last 24 hours included 1.4 mm in Alwar, 1.8 mm in Jaipur, 2 mm in Kota, 4 mm in Karauli and 2 mm in Dausa. The rain and hailstorms led to a sharp fall of 5 to 6 degrees Celsius in daytime temperatures in several districts.
The Meteorological Centre has also predicted that, under the influence of another western disturbance, light rain accompanied by thunder is likely to occur again in parts of northern and eastern Rajasthan on January 31 and February 1.
Meanwhile, the inclement weather turned fatal in two separate lightning incidents. In Deeg district’s Sikri area, a 25-year-old woman died after being struck by lightning while working in fields in Nakcha village, while her sister sustained injuries.
In another incident, Sohni Devi, a resident of Meda village in the Shrimadhopur area of Sikar district, also lost her life after being struck by lightning. She was rushed to hospital in critical condition but died on the way.
–IANS
