PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
Uttarakhand witnessed a sudden shift in weather on Wednesday as rain and hail storms affected several areas of Chamoli and Rudraprayag districts. By late evening, parts of Dehradun also experienced light showers. The change brought temporary relief from the rising heat, offering comfort to residents after days of soaring temperatures.
However, the unexpected hailstorm caused significant damage to standing crops, especially wheat in several areas of Chamoli and Rudraprayag and Tehri. With the crop almost ready for harvest, the impact was severe, leaving many farmers disheartened. In several villages, mature wheat fields were flattened by the hail. While the cooler temperatures were welcomed by locals, the agricultural damage has added to the challenges faced by farmers who rely heavily on seasonal harvests for their livelihood in the mountainous regions.
The meteorological department has forecast light to moderate rain at many places in all the districts of Kumaun region and Chamoli district of Garhwal on Thursday.
Thunderstorms accompanied with lightning and hail are likely to occur at isolated places in Dehradun, Haridwar, Uttarkashi, Pauri, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri, Almora, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh districts.
