Ranchi, April 22: Residents of the state capital have greeted the showers and the accompanying cool breeze with relief after the heat wave had given them sleepless nights.
The rains have brought the temperature down in not only the capital, but also in other parts of the state.
The weatherman’s predictions of a thundershower came true as people breathed a sigh of relief after a series of unbearably warm days.
The rising temperature was a cause for concern all over the state, especially in places like Daltonganj, Koderma and Giridih, where the mercury crossed the 42 degrees Celsius mark. Studies done by the meteorological department in Patna revealed that the average temperature last week was about 8 degrees higher than what it should be this time of the year.
Patna Met office director T.K. Jha said the sudden drop in temperature is the result of cyclonic wind circulation over the eastern Gangetic plain and the Chhotanagpur plateau.
“The winds have gathered moisture from the Bay of Bengal. This moisture-laden air has caused showers in Ranchi,” he added.
The Met office predicted that the cyclonic wind formation will last for at least 48 hours before it changes direction and gets replaced by the dry north-westerly wind, originating from Rajasthan. “It will take time for the temperature to rise again. People in the state will have peace of mind in the next few days,” said another Met department official.
Heavy rains lashed Hazaribagh, Koderma, Daltonganj and Giridih, bringing the temperature down by 7-8 degrees. The temperature at Koderma, which was recorded at around 42 degrees Celsius, has come down by 10 degrees, said a Met department official.
“The cyclonic weather is a great relief and we hope it lasts,” said P. Modi, proprietor of a stationary shop on Main Road.