Farmers worried over rain forecast for next four days ?

Shimla: Farmers in mid and lower hills of Himachal are a worried lot following MeT department forecast of heavy rain or thunderstorm, accompanied with hailstorm over next four days, as rains in this season is considered harmful for the crops.

The intermittent rains and stormy conditions with thunderstorm and hailstorms during the month of March has caused damage to Rabi (wheat) crop and stone fruits crop but continuous rains and stormy conditions were giving them sleepless nights.

The Agriculture department was hoping that the weather would improve in the end of March and Rabi targets would be achieved but heavy rains and storms has upset their estimates.

A central team headed by Union Health Minister J P Nadda and Union Minister of Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh was here today to take assess the situation and the state government has also asked the districts and departments to send detailed report about damage and loss.

The region had widespread rains today and Berthin in Bilaspur district was wettest in the region with 22 mm rains, followed by Kheri 19 mm, Gohar and Shimla 18 mm, Gaggal 12 mm, Jhandutta and Nurpur 10 mm, Mandi 9 mm, Dharamshala, Pandoh and Sunnibhaji 8 mm each.

Himachal received 81 per cent excess rains during the month of March and Sirmaur, Una, Solan and Bilaspur received 393, 387, 308 and 264 per cent excess rains during the month completely wiping out the monsoon deficit of 38 per cent.

Hamirpur received 152 per cent excess rains, followed by Kangra (108 per cent), Kinnaur (100 per cent) Mandi (89 per cent), Shimla (86 per cent), Chamba (85 per cent) and Kullu(65 per cent).

Una was hottest during the day with a maximum of 29.4 degree while Sundernagar and Nahan recorded a high of 24.3 degree and 24 degree, followed by Bhunter 22.5 degree, Dharamshala 22.4 degree, Solan 21 degree and Shimla and Manali 15 degree C.

There was no significant change in minimum temperatures which fluctuated marginally and Keylong and kalpa in tribal belt were coldest with a low of minus 1.7 degree and minus 1 degree, followed?by Manali 4 degree, Shimla 7 degree, Solan 9.5 degree, Bhuntar and Dharamsala 10.8 degree, Palampur 11 degree, Sundernagar 11. 2 degree, Una 12.Degree and Nahan 14.7 degree C.