The winter is particularly rough across northern India, especially in places such
as New Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and
Uttarakhand. Apart from the biting cold these places face, some also get
rainfall towards the end of the year due to a phenomenon called the western
disturbance.
Usually, these disturbances pass over the hilly terrains of northernmost regions
of India by the month of October, but last year the western disturbances were
delayed by a few weeks and reached India by mid-November. Ever since the
first western disturbance arrived in November, northern India has endured
numerous active disturbances that have caused overcast skies and rainfall in
New Delhi, and parts of Punjab and Haryana.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, a spell of heavy rainfall
with thunderstorms will be prevalent over isolated pockets of north India. The
IMD has predicted heavy rainfall, lightning with thunder, and hail there.
The western disturbances peaked over the last couple of days in Punjab,
Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, west Uttar Pradesh and north Rajasthan and over
the mountainous regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit and Baltistan,
Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Apart from the wet spell that has triggered intense rainy weather over the
northern states, the residents of the northern belt will have to brace for a fresh
cold wave that will follow the rains closely. This will be caused by fresh
northerly and north-westerly cold winds entering the northern plain from the
higher ranges of the Himalayas. A severe cold wave is expected to sweep
through isolated regions of North Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana from January
7.
With an active western disturbance whose wind currents have changed into
cyclonic circulations over central Pakistan and its nearby regions, induced
cyclonic circulations will be felt in southwestern Rajasthan and neighbouring
areas. A north-south zone of wind confluence was going strong on January 3,
from north Punjab to northeastern Arabian Sea with the northern disturbances
interacting with the southwesterly winds in association with moist southeasterly
winds. These conditions will be the cause behind heavy rainfall and possible
thunderstorms in parts of India.
The most concerning issue linked with the winter rainfall is the enhanced hazard
for protesting farmers camped along Delhi borders. The farmers are already
struggling with severe cold and unfavourable living conditions.
Lashes of heavy-to-medium rainfall have aggravated the situation as the farmers
now have to deal with muddy roads, slippery walkways and wet mattresses that
were to be used for gatherings. Rations kept for cooking and spaces where the
farmers make their meals have become wet and waterlogged, causing a loss of
resources and further disruptions in their lifestyle.
Many of the farmers participating in the protests are elderly people, women and
children. The rains are expected to have a severe impact on their health and
mobility. Arrangements for the maintenance of hygiene and sanitation around
the protest sites also stand compromised due to spells of rain.
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