Ranchi: Steel city Jamshedpur on Sunday recorded
the season's highest temperature of 45.6 degree Celsius as
several districts in Jharkhand witnessed mercury rising by
three to seven notches above normal.
Met office sources said Palamau with 44.8 degree Celsius
was the second hottest place in the state followed by Bokaro
44.5 deg C, Ranchi 42.4 deg C and Dhanbad 43 deg C.
Weather scientist A Wadood described the heat wave
conditions as very unusual for this time of the year.
"We have seen the data of over five decades and there was
no precedent of heat conditions in March and April. To add it,
the state experienced severe drought last year, leaving
underground water-level depleted," Wadood, a scientist with
the Birsa Agriculture University, said.
Apprehending Rabi crop might be affected following no
rains, he said "...even Ranchi had past records of cloud
formation at local level. But this year the city has not yet
experienced rains."
Chief Forest and Environment Conservator S K Sharma said
there was acute water shortage in various forest areas,
particularly in the Betla Tiger reserve.
"We are filling up waterbodies with tankers so that the
animals get sufficient water," Sharma said.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, April 18, 2010, 23:42