After days of intense heat, scorching sunshine and hot winds, people in Sirsa district got much-needed relief on Saturday as strong winds and rain brought down temperatures across the region.
The weather changed suddenly in the afternoon, with dark clouds, dust storms and light to moderate rainfall reported from several parts of the district, including Rania. The rain brought relief from temperatures that had touched nearly 46 degrees Celsius earlier this week.
However, the storm also caused damage in several areas. Trees were uprooted and fell on roads, disrupting traffic at some places. Power poles and transformers were damaged, leading to electricity outages in both urban and rural areas. Electricity department teams worked till late evening to restore supply.
According to reports, Rania received around 25-30 mm of rainfall. The temperature dropped sharply from around 37 degrees Celsius during the day to nearly 28 degrees Celsius after the rain and cool winds.
The change in weather came as a major relief for farmers, who had been struggling with rising temperatures and rapidly drying soil moisture. Cotton, guar, moong, sesame and fodder crops had started showing signs of stress due to the prolonged heatwave.
Waterlogged fields in the Rania area after rain brought relief from the intense heat.
The farmers said the rainfall would help improve soil moisture and reduce irrigation costs. They expressed hope that further rainfall in the coming days would benefit kharif crops and support sowing activities for paddy, bajra and guar.
The cooler weather also brought people out of their homes. Markets, parks and other public places witnessed increased activity as residents enjoyed the pleasant conditions after days of extreme heat.
Officials said the recent weather change was likely linked to western disturbances and local weather systems. If similar conditions continue over the next few days, the residents may get further respite from the summer heat.
The rainfall is also expected to reduce pressure on the power network. Due to soaring temperatures in recent days, electricity consumption in the district had crossed one crore units daily, leading to transformer faults, blown fuses and other technical problems. With temperatures falling, officials expect power demand to ease in the coming days.
