Lack of rainfall hits crops in West Bengal

Silliguri, Mar 18 (ANI): Farmers in Siliguri district of West Bengal face severe crop loss due to lack of rainfall.

They fear that the dry rain spell would make it extremely difficult to make both ends meet.

"There is no produce this year. We spent so much money on sowing the crops. We don't know what we can do now," said Paresh Chandra Roy, a farmer.

Meteorological experts say a number of western disturbances have already been created in and around the Arabian Sea. This was responsible for causing rainfall in the eastern region in the previous years.

But, after creation of such depressions, the air turned to the Trans Himalayan region causing rainfall in the western region and keeping the eastern region in the leeward side.

"The basic reason behind this unfortunate incident is the northerly shifting of jet streams. This winter jet stream moved further north. That is basically one reason why this western disturbance also moved further northward," said Subir Sarkar, Meteorological expert, University of North Bengal, Siliguri.

They also fear a rapid decrease in ground water level over the region if the present situation continues.

The farmers now await immediate relief from the drought like situation so that they are able to save their crops. By Tarak Prakash (ANI)