Unseasonal rains make North Guj shiver in cold wave

Palanpur: Unseasonal rains coupled with icy winds were experienced in many parts of north and central Gujarat since Wednesday night. While the sudden drop in temperature forced people indoors, the farmers rejoiced as the cold weather was conducive for the Rabi crop.
Districts like Banaskantha, Mehsana Sabarkantha, Aravalli and Patan recorded unseasonal rainfall on Thursday.Chilly winds were blowing at a higher speed throwing normal life out of gear.
After sunset, the roads in major towns of north Gujarat bore a deserted look. People were seen squatting around the bonfire. Crowding in stores selling woollen cloths was a common sight in Mehsana, Patan and Palanpur.
The weather department said that there will be no respite from the coldwave and the mercury is likely to dip further following heavy snowfall in north India.
Farmers, especially potato growers, have welcomed the cold weather.
Deputy director (agriculture) P K Patel said that even if the temperature falls a few more degrees it will be beneficial for the Rabi crop. “Total area for potato sowing however has reduced by 5,000 hectare in north Gujarat as the vulnerable farmers could not afford the rising prices of seeds. Potato sowing has been done in 58,902 hectare, of which 32,000 hectare fall in Deesa alone. Other Rabi crop has been sown in 49,000 hectare of north Gujarat,” said Patel.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin, the unseasonal rains was caused due to interaction between two weather systems.
“Western disturbance lies as a cyclonic circulation over western parts of Afghanistan and neighbourhood with a trough aloft in middle and upper tropospheric levels. Under its influence, an induced cyclonic circulation is very likely to form over southwest Rajasthan and the neighbourhood on January 7. A cyclonic circulation is also seen over north Pakistan and adjoining Punjab,” the IMD said in a statement.
“The induced cyclonic circulation over southwest Rajasthan and adjoining Pakistan now lies over southeast Rajasthan and neighbourhood. Due to the interaction between the two systems, Gujarat is likely to experience unseasonal light to moderate spell of rain till January 8,” it added.