Rain has brought brief relief and some smiles in Pegu Division, which has been suffering under serious water shortages for more than 20 days because of high temperatures and a late monsoon, residents said.
Rain started to fall at about 1 p.m. in Pegu (Bago), which has been experiencing consistent daytime temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius. The shower continued until 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, pushing the heat down to 34 degrees.
A Pegu resident expressed joy despite the brevity of the downpour as the temperature had dropped. “I am very happy because of the rain,” the housewife from Innwai Quarter said. “The temperature is decreased. Many people from our quarter bathed out in the raindrops.”
Monks from Kyakhatwine monastery had from last Saturday to Monday encircled the town while reciting a protective nga yant mint mantra.
Residents had also held ceremonies very similar to tug-of-war contests to summon rain at Shweaungyway Pagoda, in eastern Pegu and in Kyauktwinkone Quarter, in a traditional response to a massive drought that has hit the division hard.
According to the meteorology website Wunderground.com, the maximum daytime temperature for Pegu yesterday was 38 degrees and today, 34. The website predicted that for the next three days the maximum daytime temperature for the city would be 35 degrees and the minimum, 27.
Similarly, rain fell twice in Rangoon today.
“I am more happy than I can say. Thanks to the Lord of Rain! Because the Lord brings rain when people need it”, a women resident of Rangoon said. “Power cuts were frequent and the temperature was very high before the rain fell. I even wanted to cry because I felt so hot. I was very disappointed”.
The average temperature in Rangoon today was 25. The meteorology website had predicted it would range between 27 and 38, with a 40 per cent chance of rain; Rangoon on Thursday would be between 26 and 35, with a 40 per cent chance of rain; and Friday, would see temperatures of 26 to 35, with a 50 per cent chance of rain.
Since the end of last month, death rates have soared amid very high temperatures in lower and central Burma, and at least 180 villages have suffered severe water shortages.
More than 70,000 people from about 60 villages in Pegu, Kawa, Waw, Thanatpin, Daik Oo and Inma regions in Pegu Division have been dependent on charity deliveries of water for drinking and hygiene.
