Changing rainfall pattern affects Himalayan climate

Siliguri, July 23 (UNI) The pattern of rainfall has been changing in Darjeeling Himalayan region, a recent North Bengal University (NBU) Meteorological departmant study said.

NBU Met departmental head Dr Subir Sarkar told UNI here today that there are huge possibilities of landslide, drought and flood due to the frequently changing climate in Eastern and Darjeeling Himalayan region, especially in the monsoon.

The survey said the change of the rainfall would also affect crop cultivation in the area.

He said for the last two years the region did not receive heavy rains in the monsoon.

''Deforestation and global warming are the main reasons of climatic change in the Darjeeling Himalayan region. Agriculture, mainly tea plantations, in the North Bengal will also be affected due to this,'' Dr Sarkar said.

The Met department experts also said that after the change of the rainfall pattern, nature of the soil in the hilly area is also changing which might cause soil erosion and landslide.

He said only 43.5 mm rainfall has occurred in the region in the last 24 hours.

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