PTI
Shillong, May 5
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ssam and Meghalaya will receive maximum pre-monsoon rains in the next 72 hours even as there is possibility of heavy rain in other states in the north east region, officials said today.
“There is possibility of heavy rain in several parts of Assam and Meghalaya in the next 72 hours,” an official of the Delhi-based Ministry of Earth Science told PTI.
He said the reason for the rain was due to the shift of the upper air cyclonic circulation over Bangladesh and adjoining areas of Tripura which now lies over Assam and Meghalaya.According to the officials, neighbouring states of Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram including Tripura are also expected to get thunder showers in several places and the situation will continue for the next 72 hours.
Arunachal Pradesh is also likely to receive scanty rainfall during the same period, the official said.
The region is also experiencing a cooling pre-monsoon rain in the past 24 hours bringing respite from the scorching heat conditions which was prevailing in the last couple of weeks.
Meghalaya’s capital experienced rainfall in the morning and afternoon today, ending days of dry and hot spell in the city.
On April 18, the city recorded 29.5 degrees Celsius, six degrees above normal and the second highest temperature since 1973 when the city clocked 30.2 degrees Celsius.
German team to study Assam flood problem
A team of experts from the Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat (FSU) Jena in Germany will be visiting Assam from May 11 to study the recurring flood and erosion problem of the state, official sources said today.
The team headed by Prof W A Flugel, Head of Geoinformatics in FSU-Jena will conduct a study on the river basins of the Beki, Lohit and Noa-Dihing rivers before taking part in a series of meetings on May 22.
In a letter to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Prof Flugel said the team was eagerly waiting for Gogoi’s visit to Germany which was called off at the last moment due to the law and order situation in the BTAD area.
He also expressed hope that the FSU may sign a cooperation agreement with the departments concerned during the forthcoming visit.
As Gogoi had to postpone his proposed visit to the University, Flugel will lead a team to Assam to conduct the study on the river basins, the sources said.
Flugel further hoped that the unrest in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) will die down soon, they added.
