Welcome rains in Terai, snowfall in Dolakha

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar.20: Meteorologists have predicted light rain with partial to general clouds across the country for a few days. 

They cited the influence of the western as well as local disturbance for the latest weather situation. 

Mountainous areas including Kalinchowk of Dolakha district have received snowfall while the Terai region witnessed sufficient rainfall since Saturday night.

According to Samir Shrestha, a senior meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), rainfall in the evening and night is frequent during the pre-monsoon season.

“Receiving light to moderate rainfall with lightning and thunderstorms in this season is a regular and natural phenomenon. As isolated rainfall is mostly common this season, it is often difficult to make accurate forecast ,” he said. According to our Dolakha correspondent Sujan Kafle, temperature has plunged in the Kalinchowk  area after the snowfall.

According to Hari Oli, a hotel entrepreneur in Kalinchowk, temperature has fallen in the area and there is the possibility of another snowfall. This is the second snowfall in Kalinchowk this year.

Tourists who arrived in Kalinchowk are now enjoying the snow regardless of the shivering cold, Oli said. 

Hotel entrepreneurs said that the areas including Kuri in Kalinchowk, Ganesh Thumka, Gauri and the Kalinchowk temple were covered by snow. 

Kalinchowk, which used to be always full of tourists during snowfall, remained without tourism activities this year in lack of snowfall in winter, they said.

Tourists from the Terai and Kathmandu Valley visit the Kalinchowk area, located at an altitude of 3,842 meters above sea level, to play in the snow.  There are about 900 small and big hotels in the Kuri of Kalinchowk.

Meanwhile, our Sarlahi correspondent Janarjan Khatri reported that the district received enough rain after a  drought of seven months on Saturday night.

After a long wait, there was heavy rain with lightning on Saturday night. With sufficient rainfall, the farmers are now able to plough the barren fields to sow maize.

Aait Bahadur Dong, a farmer of Bhiri Khola in Lalbandi Municipality-15, expressed his happiness that the rain had soaked the ground. It had not rained in Sarlahi since September.

“There was light rain in the area on  Friday morning, but that was not enough to moisture the ground. Again it rained on Saturday night, which was enough to soak the land all over the district. Now, the farmers are busy ploughing the barren fields,” Dong said. 

In most parts of Sarlahi district, farmers depend on rainwater and cultivation is done only after rainfall.

Gokarna Paudel, head of the Agriculture Branch of Lalbandi Municipality, said that after the rain, production of fruits and vegetables would be better.

The farmers will start sowing maize soon, he said. 

The rainfall not only relieved the farmers but also cleaned the surrounding environment. It helped reduce air pollution, he said.

Local residents have said that the rains also doused the forest fires.   The cattle-rearing farmers are also happy after the rainfall as the rain will help grow new grass in the grazing areas. 

According to DHM, the highest rainfall was recorded in Lahan Siraha at 93.5 mm in the last 24 hours. Likewise, Kechana station of Jhapa district received 79 mm. Likewise,  Chandragadhi Airport in Jhapa received 51.8 mm while Sanischare received 49 mm rainfall. 

Similarly, Rajbiraj Airport in Saptari district received 53.2 mm,  Gaushala in Mahottari 41.4 mm, Tusli in Dhanusha received 41 mm and Baldyanggadi in Palpa received 33.4 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours. 

According to Shrestha, there will be partial to normal showers across the country on Monday. 

Occasional light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning is likely at some places in the hilly areas of the country and a few places in the Terai region.

As there is a possibility of temporary light to moderate rain with thunder, lightning and 

wind gusts in some places in the hilly areas of the country and a few places in the Terai areas, the DHM has requested the people to take necessary precautions to avoid damages from to thunder, lightning and wind gusts.