Moderate showers make chill return

Manmeet Singh Gill
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, February 14

Moderate showers, which started late on Wednesday evening, continued throughout Thursday, bringing the temperature down in the city. The decrease in temperature has forced residents to put on heavy clothes once again.

A group of youths said they thought on Wednesday that winter had ended for the season, but the sudden weather change brought the chill back. “It is good that it rained today. Wednesday was so hot that sitting under the sun was not comfortable,” said Ravneet Singh, a college student.

Shopkeepers and workers were seen sitting around bonfires in market areas as customers, too, preferred to postpone their shopping plans for another day. However, huge traffic jams were witnessed across the city as most of the commuters preferred four-wheelers to avoid getting drenched.

Meanwhile, agriculture officials said rain was good for the wheat crop. However, vegetable growers are worried as it might delay their early sowing plan. Farmers usually start sowing summer season vegetables in these days.

Showers may result in tightening of soil as it dries after rain. This is expected to make it difficult for sprouting of seeds, said agriculture officials. Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Dalbir Singh Chinna said the rain was moderate. “No heavy rain has been reported. The overall impact of the showers will be good,” he added.