Welcome rains in Kalimpong - 27Apr2014

The entire north-east of India has been tinder dry after the SW monsoons of 2013 (We currently have 48% deficient rain in our region with the other north east states going upto 67% deficient - top slide)
Most areas are reeling under a severe water shortage in the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalayas and numerous forest fires have been reported all over the region.
In this scenario, the sharp and heavy thundershowers brought about by a dense blob of CB clouds (IR satellite image of 27Apr2013, time 5.30pm), came as a welcome relief.What it also revealed was how unprepared we are for the onset of the monsoons 2014 with clogged drains and torrents of storm water turning roads into rivers.

Rainfall
Kalimpong - 34mm
Darjeeling - 13mm
Gangtok - 10mm

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling