Correspondent
PASIGHAT, Jul 20: Pasighat and adjoining areas in East Siang district experienced the season’s hottest day with the mercury touching 40 degrees Celsius on Friday.
The weeklong dry spell has not only sent the mercury soaring but also led to drying up of irrigation channels, streams and nallahs in Sille-Oyan, Mebo, Mirem-Bilat, Yagrung-Tekang and Ruksin-Ngorlung, which are together considered the ‘rice bowl’ of East Siang.
As the dry spell continues, the farmers are keeping their finger crossed, looking at the skies and hoping for rain.
The water level in the Siang river and its tributaries is also receding due to scanty rain.
The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted a deficit rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh this monsoon season. Capital Itanagar also experienced the hottest day of the season with the mercury climbing to 37 degrees Celsius on Friday.