Cyclone Biporjoy delays spread of monsoon

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 19: The monsoon is predicted to spread throughout Nepal within a few days after the Biporjoy Cyclone makes landfall in four days. 

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), the monsoon should have already spread throughout the country with its onset, but Biporjoy has impeded its spread.

Pratibha Tuladhar, senior meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division, said that the western part of the country would experience cloud cover starting Monday due to the cyclone and was likely to receive rains after four days. The Biporjoy Cyclone weakened the spread of monsoon westward, she said. 

The western region is still reeling from extreme heat due to the lack of rainfall, resulting in closed schools as children have been falling sick due to the searing heat. 

Meanwhile, our Nepalgunj correspondent, Siraj Khan, reported that life in Banke had become chaotic as the temperature had risen to around 43 degrees Celsius. In the past few days, the temperature in Nepalgunj has reached a record high of 42.5 degrees Celsius. 

The DHM in Nepalgunj reported that the highest temperature of the year was recorded in Nepalgunj on Saturday and Sunday. 

According to Rimjhim Kewat, a weather observer at the Nepalgunj office, the temperature in Nepalgunj reached 42.5 degrees on Saturday. 

Kewat mentioned that this is the highest temperature so far this year, as last year at this time the temperature in Nepalgunj had reached 41 degrees Celsius. He also stated that this year has been hotter than last year, but there is a possibility of rain in a few days, which would bring down the temperature. 

As the temperature rises, the Nepalgunj market becomes deserted in the afternoon. Those who venture out of their homes for specific tasks have started fainting. 

Rizwan Ansari from Nepalgunj-11, who went out for special errand, shared that he almost fainted on the road due to the heat. Local residents came to his aid, offering water and providing a place to rest in the shade. 

Due to the unbearable heat and hot air, government offices, market shops, and schools in both urban and rural areas have been affected. Citizens of Nepalgunj and surrounding areas are facing difficulties due to inadequate power supply, irregular electricity, and low voltage, making it challenging to cope with the heat. 

The Nepalgunj distribution centre of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) mentioned that despite their efforts to regulate the electricity supply, equipment degradation caused by heat had created problems. 

Diwakar Pyakurel, Chief of the Nepalgunj Distribution Center of NEA, stated that they were working tirelessly to regulate electricity but faced challenges due to various technical reasons. 

Meanwhile, doctors at hospitals in Nepalgunj have reported an increase in the number of patients with various communicable diseases due to the intense heat and “loo” (hot winds). 

Patients are seeking treatment at Bheri Hospital, Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital, Nepalgunj, and Kohalpur. Doctors have advised people to pay attention to their diet and drink boiled or filtered water to avoid the effects of the heat. Due to the extremely hot weather, all 10 municipalities and rural municipalities in Nepalgunj have been closed for ten days, and now schools are operating in morning shift.