With the monsoon in full swing, more than half-a-dozen States and Union Territories (UTs) have been inundated due to 20 to 78 per cent excessive rainfall.
The country, however, received 384.7 mm rainfall against the normal of 395.6 mm till July 26. Interestingly, Northeastern States and several parts of Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh are facing drought-like situation.
Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Kerala, Dadar, Daman & Diu are among those States and UTs which have received excess rain this monsoon.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), 169 districts of the total 681 in India, have recorded excess rain. Of them, 32 districts received bountiful rain.
A scientist with the National Weather Forecasting Centre at the IMD said, “The heavy rain occured because of an unusual formation of the monsoon trough, an area of low pressure that generates intense rainfall.”
At peak, monsoon rain inundates 169 districts Currently, an upper air cyclonic circulation is seen around a broad area over Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal. Now, the system is expected to become more organised in the coming days. Due to this, eastern parts of the country which have remained rain deficient for a long time are expected to receive abundant rain,” he said.
Rajasthan received 29 per cent excess rain as compared to 2017. The State has received 220.8 mm rain against the normal of 125.5 mm till date. As per data, four districts -Bikaner, Churu, Ganganagar and Jodhpur -have got more rainfall between 33 per cent and 108 per cent.
Bikaner received more than 108 per cent rain, followed by Churu of 60 per cent; Ganganagar 45 per cent and Jodhpur 35 per cent.
Maharashtra received 27 per cent more rain this year recording 606.3 mm rainfall against the normal of 476.1 mm till date. According to IMD, Mumbai received 1577.3 mm rain; Palaghar 1994.4 mm; Raigarh 2259.6 mm; Ratnagiri 2436.8 mm; Sindhudurg 2327.1 mm; suburban Mumbai 1927.8 mm and Thane 2017.8 mm.
The IMD officials said Nasik has recorded 48 per cent excess rain while Pune 61 per cent. Satara received 46 per cent excess rain; Nagpur 55 per cent more rain and Yavatmal 25 per cent excess rain till date.
Kerala received 1505.1 mm rainfall against the normal of 1255 mm till July 26.
Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottyam, Kozikod and Palakkad are the worst hit in the recent south west monsoon rain in Kerala,which have received rainfall between 20 per cent and 45 per cent more rain till date.
Kottyam has received 39 per cent more than normal rain; followed by Palakkad 41 per cent; Ernakulam 39 per cent and Kozikod 20 per cent.
Daman received 1400.8 mm rainfall against the normal of 784 mm while Diu received 1298.9 mm against the normal of 400 mm.
In Jammu and Kashmir, 11 districts have got excessive rain this year, and they are Pulwama, Kulgam, Anantnag, Badgam, Bandipore, Doda, Jammu, Baramulla, Ramban Ganderwal and Srinagar.
The IMD data showed rain deficiency in Bihar is at 49 per cent whereas UP has recorded 48 per cent less rainfall in Eastern and Western parts.
Besides, five northern eastern States have received deficit rainfall this monsoon, are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalya, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland. The rain fall deficiency is 35-40 per cent till date.