[ Prafulla Kaman ]

PASIGHAT, 31 Aug: Moderate to heavy showers on Monday morning brought respite to residents in the Siang valley, including Ruksin, Pasighat and Mebo areas of East Siang district, who had been reeling under scorching heat after a weeklong dry spell.

The rainfall brought down the mercury level below 30 degrees Celsius with the daytime maximum temperature hovering around the 30s over the past few days.

As per data from the Pasighat division of the Water Resource Department, the district received 1189.5 mm rainfall in June and 590 mm in July, while August saw about 448.1 mm rainfall in 15 rainy days till 30 August.

According to agriculture scientists at the Pasighat KVK, the region witnessed a normal rainfall during monsoon this year. The post-monsoon rainfall in the region is aiding vigorous growth of paddy and other horticulture crops, they said.