More rains to pour misery on farmers

BHUBANESWAR: The farming community of the State, still reeling under the unprecedented pest attack, has more reasons to worry as fresh spells of rain are in the offing next week.With a cyclonic circulation formed over south Bay of Bengal, chances of it concentrating into a system seem imminent. Not only that, the system is expected to come closer to Odisha coast leaving a wet spell which could prove disastrous since the harvesting season would be near.

It was the untimely rains, caused by a depression during Diwali, that changed the local climate making way for a pest infestation last month. Large parts of western Odisha were badly hit as farmers torched their affected paddy crop. In Bargarh’s Kalapani, 52-year-old farmer Brundaban Sahu ended his life unable to bear the mounting losses.

The forecast of a fresh system may cause more anxiety since the rains are expected around the harvesting period. The weather office said the system will form around November 13 and remain close to Chennai coast. Light showers are expected over southern districts during that period.

However, the system is expected to move north and draw close to Odisha coast. While some agencies forecast that it may cross Odisha coast, others are of the view that it may go towards West Bengal-Bangladesh border. Under such circumstances, heavy spells of rain are expected during November 16 to 18, India Meteorological Department’s Bhubaneswar Centre said.At present, the models forecast conducive conditions such as wind and warmer sea surface.