The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Low pressure persists, more rain likely

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Friday, Dec 18, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Low pressure persists, more rain likely

K. Lakshmi

Wholesale prices of many vegetables take a beating in wet spell

— Photo: S.S.Kumar

MOVING ON: A weary commuter shields himself from the rain on Thursday.

CHENNAI: As the trough of low pressure extending from the Gulf of Mannar to West Central Bay off Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coast persists, the city is set to get showers on Friday.

The Meteorological observatory at Nungambakkam recorded 12 mm rainfall between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. on Thursday. The facility at Meenambakkam registered 10.9 mm rain during the same period.

The heavy showers during the past few days have contributed to increase in seasonal rainfall in the city, which has recorded 816 mm rain, 95 mm above average, since October 1.

“It is normal to have monsoon rain during this time of the month. We have had cyclonic storms even in January,” said a Meteorological Department official. Chennai would experience few spells of rain or thunder showers over the next two days.

The recent spell has led to a decrease in wholesale prices of many vegetables as traders were forced to bring down the cost due to dull sales.

Some of the vegetables that had turned dear over the past few months, such as beans and brinjal, now cost less, Rs.8 a kg and Rs.15 a kg respectively, compared to Rs.22 until a week ago.

Onions and tomatoes are still expensive at Rs.35 and Rs.20 owing to fewer arrivals. Traders say the sales were affected to the extent of 30 per cent by the showers.

Moreover, the market received only limited supply of vegetables such as yam and lady’s finger, following the temporary suspension of truck service due to agitation in Andhra Pradesh.

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