SHILLONG: Even as the Southwest Monsoon is yet to hit the north-eastern region, Shillong experienced torrential rains over the past few days, Friday’s being the harshest affecting normal life in the city.
The pre-monsoon showers washed away roads leading to water logging in several places severely restricting vehicular and pedestrian movement.
Garbage was seen strewn in the lanes of the town with foul smell emanating from them. The worst affected areas were Quinton Road, Butcher Road, Lady Veronica Lane, Polo among others where spillover garbage has not only affected the traffic but also school students who were returning home from schools amid heavy downpour.
“Relentless showers and now garbage, which is visible all over, has made life difficult in this otherwise tourist-favoured city,” lamented a parent, who came to fetch her daughter during the downpour.
Heavy rains that started from June 3 lashed the city several times sometimes in the wee hours, daytime and in the evening.
A villager from Smit is worried that this kind of heavy rains might affect the standing crops.
Meanwhile, conditions are favourable for the Southwest Monsoon to advance to the northeast and some parts of north Bengal in the next two days, according to a PTI report.
Director of the regional meteorological centre GC Debnath told PTI that radar watch of the monsoon current confirmed the existence of favourable conditions for its advance to the northeast and north Bengal.
Thereafter, Debnath said, the flow would somewhat weaken causing delay in its arrival in eastern India.
However, good rainfall activity will continue along the west coast and northeastern states.
The Southwest Monsoon usually hits coastal Bengal between June 8 and 10. But this year, it would be delayed, though slightly, he said.
According to a meteorological department official in Agartala, Dilip Saha, “By Sunday or Monday, monsoon would cover the entire mountainous region,” an IANS report said.
“The monsoon this year in the northeastern region would be normal,” Saha added.
In the northeastern region, monsoon lasts from June to September.
According to an official report, the rainfall in the region was short by 25 percent last year compared to normal monsoon.