Ernakulam: Offering respite from the scorching summer and the pollution, rains lashed Ernakulam and parts of central Kerala Wednesday evening. The average temperature recorded a decrease of 15 degrees within hours, giving a respite from the severe heat.

Fears of acid content in the rainwater from the first summer shower were soon raised by locals who pointed to foaming in puddles on roadsides in Ernakulam city.

Rajagopal Kamath, who claims to be a researcher, has said acid rain fell on Kochi. He posted a picture of a few litmus papers on Facebook, to state his case.

Onmanorama has not independently verified the authenticity of the tests.

Warnings of possible acid rain in Kochi had been issued by environment experts in the aftermath of a massive fire at the Brahmapuram waste dump yard. The fire had started on March 2 and released toxic smoke for more than 12 days.

The litmus papers shared by Kamath appear to show red stains indicating acidity. A litmus test is conducted to gauge the pH of a solution. The pH of distilled water is 7 and it is treated as neutral, indicated by green on a litmus paper. However, acidic solutions tend to reflect red during a litmus test. According to environmental protection agencies, acid rains usually have a pH between 4.2 and 4.4.

Meanwhile, experts in the field of Atmospheric Sciences have dismissed the litmus test as conclusive. “Colour alone will not tell anything about the intensity. Normal rainwater itself is acidic. So more detailed analysis is needed to tell the accurate acidity due to excess pollutants,” said an expert.

Acid rain is any form of precipitation with components of Sulfuric Acid and Nitric Acid. Acidic water is regarded as harmful for plants and wildlife, including fish.

Temperature dips in various parts

Vellanikkara in Thrissur recorded the highest temperature of 38 degrees in the State yesterday. Other places recorded temperatures of 35 to 36 degrees. The temperature in many places fell to the range of 20 to 22 degrees in the evening after the rain. 

Many places of Ernakulam district which has been under a blanket of smoke pollution, received rain by 7 in the evening yesterday. 

Automatic rain gauges in the eastern border area of Neriyamangalam recorded 23 mm of rain yesterday afternoon. 

The amounts of rain received are as follows: Odakali (16), Aluva (7), Ernakulam (6.5), Mattancherry (4.5), Koothattukulam (8.5), and Choondi (7.5).

Rain accompanied by thunder was experienced in the eastern areas of Pathanamthitta district. Seethathode and Ayirur Vazhakunnam received 20 mm of rain on Tuesday. 

The rain received at different places last night: (Data from automatic rain gauges in mm): Pathanamthitta -Vazhakunnam in (18), Seethathode (2.5), Kunnamthanam (1), Ranni (3.5), Thrissur – Athirappilly (6.5), Palakkad -  Adakkaputhur (0.5), Peringalkuthu (2.5) Kottayam - Kumarakom (0.5), Idukki - Thodupuzha (8.5), Peerumade (10.5).