Dehradun : The skies are still heavily overcast and the meteorological department has forecast heavy to very heavy widespread rains throughout Uttarakhand. In fact it was because of this forecast that the pilgrimage to Kedarnath shrine which was scheduled to start on Oct 1, after the June holocaust, had to be postponed to Oct 5.
Normally, this small mountain state has a three- month monsoon beginning about mid-June and ending about mid- September. Last year according to the met office here the monsoons began on June 27 and it was announced that they had gone on Sept 27. However, this year they came early, on June 15 to be more precise and is still active in the state, though it is now October.
It is perhaps because of this that the state capital, which use to witness heavy rains about three decades back, but their intensity had reduced to quite an extent from a few years back, received more rains than Mumbai which normally goes out of gear for days during the monsoons. If official records are to be believed, while Mumbai witnessed 2395 mm of rains this monsoon, Dehra Dun had 2865 mms.
In fact, this is the first time after 38 years that the monsoons have extended till October. Normally the monsoons bid good by to this city once renowned for its grey hairs and green hedges, by Sept 15. However, it was in 1975 that they were still active till Oct 12, when Uttarakhand witnessed a prolonged monsoon. In 1982, the monsoons were declared over as early as on Sept 12.
According to the weatherman, initially there were fears that the monsoons may not extend even till late September this year, as they got weak in mid Sept, but because of low pressure in the Bay of Bengal, the system got active yet again and Uttarakhand witnessed heavy rains in different parts.
However, it is being said that the delayed withdrawal of the monsoon is because of the low pressure in the Bay of Bengal. Even in Delhi the withdrawal could be on Oct 10, instead of Sept 21, as the phenomenon is likely to continue for another week.
According to the meteorological department, until Sept 16, until Sept 16, the withdrawal of the monsoon was normal. However, as it was withdrawing, the low pressure area in the eastern coast moved inland halting the withdrawal of the monsoon.
A journalist with over 40 years of experience, Jagdish Bhatt was Editor, Hill Post (Uttarakhand).
Jagdish had worked with India’s leading English dailies, which include Times of India, Indian Express, Pioneer and several other reputed publications. A highly acclaimed journalist, he was a recipient of many awards
Jagdish Bhatt, aged 72, breathed his last on 28th August 2021 at his Dehradun residence.
