Cherrapunjee regains status of area with heaviest rainfall

Cherrapunjee regains status of area with heaviest rainfall
A J Philip

CHERRAPUNJEE, FEB 21: Cherrapunjee has regained its status of being the heaviest rainfall area in the world. During the last three years, it has recorded a heavier rainfall than Mawsynram situated at a distance of about 16 kms from Cherrapunjee which has, of late, been known as the wettest place.

According to B.P. Mandal, senior observer at the Meteorological Office at Cherrapunjee, the rainfalls of 8,993.6 mm, 14,536.9 mm and 12,502.8 mm that he has recorded in 1997, 1998 and 1999 respectively, were higher than the corresponding figures of Mawsynram. The latest figures prove that the epicentre of the rains has not shifted away from Cherrapunjee as was believed.

Mandal also disproved reports that the intensity of rains in Cherrapunjee has weakened. For instance, the rainfalls during the last two years were higher than the normal rainfall of 11,070 mm, calculated on the basis of the figures available with his office since 1973, when it was established. Until then, the responsibility of measuring therainfall rested with the post office at Cherrapunjee.

He recorded the heaviest daily rainfall of 1,563 mm on June 16, 1995. Until then, the maximum rainfall for a single day was recorded in 1876, when 1,041 mm of rain fell in 24 hours, as mentioned in the Gazetteer of Khasi and Jaintia Hills (1900). While the fact that Cherrapunjee, which was once the Capital of the Northeast region, has recovered its lost position will gladden the hearts of its 30,000 or so residents, they never believed that it ever lost its status as the wettest place. They have genuine doubts about the authenticity of the rainfall figures that emanate from Mawsynram.

As it is, there is no proper observatory at Mawsynram and the Meteorological Department has installed an ordinary rain gauge and a self-recording gauge. This has raised doubts about the authenticity of the figures.

Mawsynram was not regarded as the wettest place during the British period. The pride of place was always given to Cherrapunjee. Swami Suprabhananda,principal of the Ramakrishna Mission School at Cherrapunjee, finds fault even with the rainfall figures of the Cherrapunjee meteorological office.According to him the figures would have been different had the meteorological office been situated at a higher altitude. The town has two distinct areas, known as the Upper Cherra and the Lower Cherra, with an altitude difference of at least 500 feet.

Since the meteorological office is located at Lower Cherra, the figures of rainfall are always on the lower side, giving Mawsynram an added advantage. Yet, Cherrapunjee has finally pipped Mawsynram and Waialeale (Hawai, USA), which is another claimant, at the post.