The rain starved city of interior Tamil Nadu, Madurai has received excess pre-monsoon rain this May. And according to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, this arid city is likely to receive more rain in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Good showers in Madurai in the last two days came as succor to the locals who have seen the mercury had touched a simmering 37⁰C. The rain on Tuesday lasted for more than an hour which is likely to recharge ground water table that had been going alarmingly dry.
Madurai on Tuesday recorded 13.3 mm of rain, while on Monday it was 24 mm. Till now the city has received approximately 116 mm of rain, which is way above the normal average of 73.6 mm for the month of May.
“Rain in Tamil Nadu is occurring post the low pressure system in South India, as a result of discontinuity line which is running across the state. Madurai receiving excess rain is not a very common phenomenon. The city receives excess rain once in every 5 to 6 years only. The last time it observed more than 100 mm of rain, was in 2009” said, G.P Sharma of Skymet meteorology Division in India.
A long and intense shower on Monday evening was far from sufficient to solve the water crisis in Madurai. Fortunately, the city is receiving showers in the last few days and people are keen to collect as much rain water as possible.
The fear of a water crisis had started running deep in the minds of people and officials were hoping to complete the digging of borewells to tap ground water. Till the first few days of May the water level in Vaigai dam, the primary source of drinking water to the city, stood at 21.62 feet against the full capacity of 71 ft.
Experts claim, though rains have fallen, there has hardly been an increase into Vaigai reservoir. Experts therefore claim, rains would not help much in terms of filling water bodies, it would just diffuse the water crisis to some extent by way of recharging ground water.
The Madurai district was supposed to receive 78.5 mm rain in March and April. But, the actual rainfall recorded was only 3.9 mm in the period accounting for a deficit of 95%. However, the situation changed in May when the low pressure system brought good amounts of rain to entire Tamil Nadu. Records show, till 7th May Madurai had received 79 mm of rain which was 465% above the normal average.
Madurai is the place to visit during summer as the famed Meenakshi Temple hosts the Chithirai festival. But the water crisis, prevalent till couple of days back had dissuaded many visitors.
