Mercury soars but relief in sight

Guwahati, May 06 (UNI) It is scorching hot in Asom and the people are alarmed of a severe summer this year, but the weathermen refuses to read much into it.

Even as temperatures continued to soar and a drought of rainfall has added to the heat conditions, the Met department maintained that the temperature is still within the normal limits for this time of the year.

A Met official today said, ''The temperature is not unusually high for the pre-monsoon season.'' He informed the average day temperature in capital city Guwahati for the past week had been maximum 37 degree Celsius and night temperature, 25 degree Celsius.

However, the lack of rainfall over the past days after heavy showers a fortnight ago has added to the heat.

The official explained that creation of low pressure in Andaman Sea has cut off the moisture supply to the North East, because of which the region had no rainfall for the past few days.

''The cloud cover has vanished over the region in the absence of a rain bearing system,'' he added.

The Met official, however, had good news for the people of the region that NE could soon expect rainfall.

He said, ''After the next 48 hours, we expect rain in the region.

In fact, southern Tripura could get rain within the next 24 hours itself.'' As the temperatures refuse to show any signs of respite, the people could draw solace from the news from the Met department and look towards the skies for the much-awaited rains. UNI