What is common in Kargil in Ladakh, Gautam Budh Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, Chandel in Manipur and Central Delhi in New Delhi? All the four districts are among the most rain-deficient districts in the country.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Kargil recorded a rain deficiency of 92 percent, followed by Chandel with 91 percent, Gautam Budh Nagar with 85 percent and Central Delhi with 62 percent.
Overall, interestingly, though India has 9 percent surplus rainfall this year,150 districts in the country have recorded less rainfall this season even as the monsoon season has entered in its last month. India has recorded 795 mm rainfall against the normal of 730.8 percent.
As per the IMD, Kargil district has recorded only 2.5 mm rainfall as against the normal of 28.9 mm — a shortfall of 92 percent. Chandel is the second in the most rain deficient district which recorded 148.8 mm rainfall as against the normal of 1681.6 mm – a shortfall of 91 percent. Gautam Budh Nagar, which is the third most rain deficient district has recorded only 66.3 mm rainfall against the normal of 452 mm – a shortfall of 85 percent. It is the second most rain deficient district in the country after Chandel.
Central Delhi district has recorded 62 percent less rainfall this monsoon season so far and is the second-most rain deficient district in northwest India. The district has gauged 222.9 mm rainfall against the normal of 582.3 mm since June 1, when the monsoon season started. Northeast and Northwest Delhi have also recorded 33 percent less precipitation so far. While Northeast Delhi has gauged 401.5 mm rain against the normal of 582.3 mm, Northwest Delhi reported 276.5 mm against 399.7 mm recorded usually.
Two districts of Assam- Darrang and Morigaon have recorded 65 percent less precipitation so far. Districts which have recorded over 50 percent rainfall deficiency include Panchkula (-61 percent), Mathura (-60 percent), Ghaziabad (-60 percent), Kausambi (-57 percent), Bulandshahr (-60 percent), Kanpur Dehat ( -60 percent), Rohtak ( - 57 percent), Rampur (-55 percent), Hoshiarpur (-53 percent), Rohtak (-52 percent) , Deoghar ( -51 percent), Leh and Ladakh ( - 51 percent), Hardoi ( - 50 percent), Gumla ( - 50 percent), Mansa (-50 percent), Bhiwani (-48 percent), Pauri Garhwal (-46 percent), Champawat (-48 percent), Uttarkashi (-43 percent), Mahoba (-48 percent), Yavatmal and Akola (-30 percent each) Trishur , Dahod, Dangs, and Surguja (-27 percent each).
According to the IMD, India received 27 per cent more rainfall than normal in August, the fourth highest amount in the last 120 years. This is due to formation of five low pressure areas in Bay of Bengal in August which led to heavy to moderate rainfall across India. The August of 1926 saw 33 per cent more rainfall than normal, the highest precipitation recorded so far in the month; 1976 recorded 28.4 per cent more rainfall than normal, while the August of 1973 recorded 27.8 per cent than normal. This year saw 27 per cent rainfall.