Rains in northwest India reduce monsoon deficit, but overall situation worrisome

However, the overall situation is not very comfortable, with only one out of the four broad geographical regions, northwest India, having received better than normal rainfall. Southern India still has a shortfall of 46 per cent, while central India has received 35 per cent below normal rainfall. And despite the flood-like situation in Assam, eastern India has a 23 per cent deficiency, with Bihar and Jharkhand among the driest states in the country as of now. Bihar has received just 22 per cent of its normal rainfall, while Jharkhand has got 36 per cent.

Kerala is in a bad situation as well, having received only 36 per cent rainfall till now. Maharashtra has received just 30 per cent.

After the initial delay, monsoon has arrived at most parts of the country now, at some places, like in the northwestern states, a few days ahead of schedule. But it has not been bringing consistent amount of rainfall, especially in the southern states.

A low pressure area over Odisha and adjoining areas of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh has being resulting in some rainfall in that region in the last two days. The India Meteorological Department expects this spell of rainfall to continue for about four to five days. Other parts of the country are also expected to continue getting some rainfall till the end of this month at least. In the last two days, rainfall has picked up in every region, though many individual states and districts are still very dry.

At the start of the season, IMD had predicted an 8 per cent deficiency for the month of June for the country as a whole. Good rainfall over the remaining days of the month could bring the current 23 per cent deficit closer to the predicted value but the wide regional variation, including the fact that large states like Maharashtra or Bihar have seen very little rainfall till now, means the overall monsoon situation at the end of the month could still be worrisome.