PATNA, May 10 -- The regular thunderstorms and rains in large parts of Bihar for the last one week is set to cast an adverse impact on the production of fruits like mangoes and litchis this year, experts said, adding that the drop in mercury will also affect the taste and aroma of the seasonal fruits. Officials at the local met centre said that several districts, including Patna, will likely witness rains and thunderstorms in next few days as per forecasts till May 11. This will affect crops sown in the last couple of months, said Dr CN Prabhu Bihar Mausam Sewa Kendra (BMSK) director. However, the director said that the rains, hailstorms witnessed quite frequently in the last 10 days, were not reflective of any changing weather pattern, but were pre-monsoon rain. "It is nothing unusual. In April and May, we often witness pre-monsoon rains," said Prabhu. In the last 24 hours, a maximum temperature of 38.5deg Celsius was recorded at Bhabua and Chand blocks in Kaimur district while a minimum temperature of 18.7deg Celsius was recorded at Lauria in East Champaran district. Over the last few days, temperature was largely moderate. According to data shared by the BMSK, the highest rainfall recorded in the last 24 hours across the districts includes Supaul block in Supaul (61.3 mm) followed by Gamharia block in Madhepura (51.5 mm), Bokhra in Sitamarhi (50 mm) and Ghohardiha in Madhubani (48.5 mm). Meanwhile, agriculture experts feel the drop in temperature over the last one week in large parts of the state due to rains and thunderstorms has come as a big setback for farmers engaged in producing mango and litchi fruits, which are the main seasonal fruits during the summer months. Dr Anil Kumar Singh, research director at Bihar Agriculture University Sabour, Bhagalpur, said the drop in temperature due to regular rains and thunderstorms and severe winds have already caused damage to mango fruits and litchis in many districts in the state, including Bhagalpur. "High temperature is good for the taste and aroma of mango and litchi. This year, regular rains coupled with thunderstorms will affect their quality. Production of seasonal fruits is likely to be on the lower side as farmers have already suffered damages due to rains and hailstorms," he said. Bihar is one of the big producers of mango and has high production of litchis, especially Shahi litchis of Muzaffarpur, known for their distinct taste, sweetness and aroma. A big volume of litchis from Muzaffarpur and adjoining districts in north Bihar get exported, fetching high prices. "The hailstorms in recent days have not affected the rabi crop, but soon there will be an assessment of the impact of the hailstorms, rains on seasonal crop and fruits," said an official in the agriculture department, speaking to HT on the condition of anonymity....