The Nilgiris : While most parts in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring State, Kerala is witnessing a sharp dip in temperatures, the district of Nilgiris is experiencing severe cold conditions, including frost, with the temperature dropping steadily from the first week of January.
The Nilgiris : While most parts in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring State, Kerala is witnessing a sharp dip in temperatures, the district of Nilgiris is experiencing severe cold conditions, including frost, with the temperature dropping steadily from the first week of January.
The heavy frost cover has started to create havoc in the district, as acres of tea plantation are wilting away due to extreme weather conditions. Especially, the grazing grounds have been covered with frost, posing fodder scarcity for livestock and wild animals.
The grasslands in the Nilgiris and Mudumalai has been adversely affected with severe frost conditions, thereby forcing animals venture into residential areas for fodder. In a bid to minimise the losses, the tea planters are using sprinklers to safeguard the tea leaves.
The cattle rearers in the Nilgiris lament that due to heavy frost conditions they are forced to buy cattle fodder for money.
Presently, the Nilgiris is experiencing 4-5 degree Celsius in the night and a maximum temperature of 10 degree in the daytime. However, in Munnar the temperatures have already hit the minus brakets and unusual cold conditions has been reported by the locals.
While the prevailing adverse weather conditions are already posing threat to the cattle and wild animals, the India Meteorological Department has warned that ground frost would continue to occur at a few places in the hills of Nilgiris, Coimbatore and Dindigul districts in Tamil Nadu.
The cold wave in the state started on January 1, with the retreat of the northeast monsoon from south India.