Nightly rainfall in Mahottari brings relief from daytime heat

Despite the sweltering heat during the day in the third week of Jestha, Mahottari and surrounding districts have been experiencing nightly rainfall for the past four days. Since the start of the fourth week of Jestha last Friday, it has rained every night, continuing through Monday. As the third week of Jestha began, the intense heat made life difficult for the people.

However, with the onset of the fourth week, the nightly downpours have provided relief from the scorching daytime heat. “The heat has become unbearable, but the nightly rain since last Friday has brought significant relief,” says 65-year-old Ganesh Mahato from Ramnagar, Gaushala-1. “The continuous rain has greatly benefited the crops.”

Since Friday, the moisture in the fields from the nightly rain has prompted farmers to start planting paddy seedlings. “Although we couldn’t plant in muddy beds due to daily rain, the soil’s moisture allowed us to plant in dry beds,” says 60-year-old farmer Raghu Kafle from Krishnapur, Bardibas-6. “Despite the extreme daytime heat, the nightly rain has eased farming, allowing farmers to plant millet beds alongside paddy.”

Farmers also report that the recent rain has been a boon for sugarcane, maize, and vegetable crops. With the winter passing without rain, water sources dried up quickly, causing concern about planting crops. Additionally, since the start of the third week of Jestha, daytime temperatures have hovered around 38/39 degrees Celsius.

Towards the end of the third week of Jestha, the heat led local authorities to announce school closures. However, with the rain improving the weather in the fourth week, schools that were closed have started reopening from Monday, according to Raman Niraula, an official at the Education and Sports Branch of Bardibas Municipal Executive Office.

The consistent nightly rain has also raised hopes among locals for the replenishment of water sources. “With rain almost every night, there is hope that wells, tube wells, and river sources will soon be replenished,” says farmer Kusheshwar Yadav from Ramnagar, Bhanga-4. “If the sources are replenished soon, it will alleviate drinking water issues and provide necessary irrigation for farming.”