The deficiency of southwest monsoon reduced to 9 percent on July 31, from 35 percent at the end of June 30. Of the 36 meteorological subdivisions, 12 had deficit rain and 24 normal. As many as 302 districts across the country have less rainfall so far. The all India rainfall was recorded to be 410.5 mm against the normal of 452.2 mm, a deficiency of 9 percent till July 31.
Meanwhile, flood situation in Assam and Bihar improved further on Wednesday with water level of all the major rivers as well its tributaries showing a receding trend and no death reported during the last 24 hours.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the current vigorous phase of the monsoon will continue, with favourable weather systems developing in different parts of the country. “The total rainfall in August would be about 99% of normal,” the IMD said.
“Rainfall has revived most significantly in Central India, a region defined by the IMD as the area between the country’s mid-latitudes to include Gujarat, Odisha and Maharashtra, apart from Madhya Pradesh. The region’s seasonal rainfall is just 5 percent below normal. The deficit is 11 percent in East and North East India; 8 percent in North-West India; 5 percent in Central India and 19 percent in South Peninsula “ the IMD said.
In the eastern and northeastern parts, rainfall has been 11 percent below average. But the season’s normal rain is so heavy that even after this shortfall, the region has got much more than rest of the country.
According to latest data from the department of agriculture, till July 26, kharif crops have been sown in around 68.87 million hectares, which is 6.43 per cent lower than the area covered during the same period last year. This is also 7.29 per cent less than the average area covered in the last five kharif seasons. The rains entered India on June 8, after a delay of more than a week. Its progress across south, central and east India was hampered by Cyclone Vayu in the Arabian Sea which sucked out much of its strength.