Rajasthan Reels Under Hailstorms, Mercury Plummets 7°C in Jaipur

"On April 8, light rainfall is likely in the northern parts of the Bharatpur and Jaipur divisions, while most other areas will remain predominantly dry. From April 9 onwards, the weather is expected to stay largely dry for the next four to five days, with temperatures likely to rise by 3-4° degrees Celsius starting April 10," said Radheshyam Sharma, Director of the Jaipur Meteorological Centre.

Meanwhile, a spell of heavy rain and hailstorms across Rajasthan, triggered by the Western Disturbance, continued through Tuesday as several districts recorded rainfall exceeding one inch. Districts such as Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, and Nagaur also witnessed hailstorms accompanied by intense rainfall. In the state capital, Jaipur, heavy rains lashed the city for nearly one and a half hours on Tuesday night, leading to a drop in temperature of up to 7 degrees Celsius.

The shift in weather conditions caused a noticeable dip in temperatures across the state, with maximum temperatures in more than 10 cities falling below 30 degrees Celsius. The highest maximum temperature, 36.6 degrees, was recorded in Chittorgarh, while Fatehpur (Sikar) remained the coolest, with a maximum of 25 degrees in the last 24 hours.

Over the past 24 hours, several districts, including Jodhpur, Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur, Dausa, Alwar, Nagaur, Tonk, Bharatpur, and Dholpur, received rainfall under dense cloud cover. In parts of Nagaur, Churu, and Hanumangarh, gusty winds exceeding 40 km/h accompanied rain and hailstorms.

The weather system, active since the night of April 6, had its strongest impact on Tuesday across the divisions of Jodhpur, Bikaner, Ajmer, Jaipur, Bharatpur, Udaipur, and Kota. Continuous rainfall has caused significant damage to crops such as wheat and isabgol (psyllium). Waterlogging in fields has affected crops that were ready for harvest, while produce stored in local mandis in several districts has also been damaged.

A light rainfall alert has been issued for parts of the Bharatpur and Jaipur divisions over the next 24 hours. Thereafter, weather conditions are expected to remain clear for four to five days, with rising daytime temperatures due to stronger sunlight. Sharma stated that temperatures are likely to increase during the latter half of April. He also indicated the possibility of intense heat during May and June this year.

- IANS