Mercury Dips as Hailstorm Lashes Guwahati

Guwahati, Jan 17 : The mercury dipped further and the city became even chillier with a spell of hailstorm on Sunday. The heavy downpour surprised many, even though the weather generally remains cold and foggy during Magh Bihu every year.

However, the festive warmth intensified with a sharp plunge in temperature following the hailstorm. "Now that it is colder, I can't help putting on more woolens. In fact, the Magh Bihu fever has shot up because of the cold weather. You can keep on feasting in such weather," said Kaberi Das, a Guwahati resident.

However, several people are facing a lot of inconvenience because of the cold and sudden downpour. Places in the city remained water-logged for at least 20 minutes because of the heavy rain.

"You cannot feast outside if you cannot step out of your house because of water-logging and mud puddle. It is better to stay at home, and keep yourself warm. The weather has dampened the festive spirit," Arup Sarma, a resident of Ambikagiri Nagar in Guwahati said.

Ambikagiri Nagar, Bhangagarh, Lachitnagar, Shaktinagar, Chilarainagar and many other areas in the city faced the water-logging problem.

Meteorology department, however, said that hailstorm during Magh Bihu is nothing abnormal.

"Rain and hailstorm during winter is a normal weather phenomenon. It is a coincidence that the hailstorm occurred during Magh Bihu. In the past also, the city has seen heavy rainfall in winter," deputy director general of meteorology, H G Pathak said.

On Sunday, the maximum temperature was 21.4 degrees Celsius, which was two degrees below the normal temperature.

The regional meteorology centre here has forecast foggy weather with spell of thunderstorm in the next 24 hours. The maximum temperature on Monday is expected to be around 21 degrees Celsius.