Even as the rainfall in Jharkhand subsided on the third day of October, there has been a departure of more than five fold in the state from the normal rainfall in the first three days compared to the previous years. Authorities in multiple districts said that the water levels in the dam too is receding, however, the rainfall and thunderstorm had taken a toll on lives killing at least eight people in the past three days. As per India Meteorological Department’s Ranchi unit, between October 1-October 3, Jharkhand recorded 78mm of rainfall when the ‘normal rainfall’ in the same period is slated to be 11.7mm. However, in its daily bulletin IMD warned: “Heavy rain is likely at isolated places over Bokaro, Dhanbad, Jamtara, Dumka, Pakur, Simdega on October 4, and thunderstorms or lightning likely to occur at isolated places over the state.” Officials at the IMD attributed the event to climate change. IMD’s Ranchi unit Head and Scientist Abhishek Anand explained: “There has been a marked increase in the amount of rain during any rainfall event in the first three days of October compared to the previous years. The rainfalls in October have been caused by low pressure, depression in the Bay of Bengal (with respect to Jharkhand)–which we call as system generated–rather than the rainfall brought by monsoon clouds. This change in the rainfall pattern is due to climate change.” As per the IMD data, the observed cumulative rainfall from June 1 to August 31 this year, the state received 502.3 mm against normal rainfall of 798.8 mm and departure was - 37% which is also a deficient rainfall. The overall data of the entire South-West monsoons (June to September) is not available. However, five districts in Jharkhand saw heavy rainfall in the last three days i.e Ranchi 112.3 mm; Ramgarh 111.3mm; Garhwa 147mm; Giridih 104mm; and Dhanbad 115.2 mm. On Sunday, Dev Prasad Ram, 28, was washed away in the drain in Ranchi town while he was returning from work, and his body was recovered only a day later two kilometres away. Ranchi Municipal Corporation then swung into action and directed the officials to cover all drains. In Bokaro, one Saina Parveen, 4, died after a mud wall collapsed and she was caught under the debris. Officials said that another child, 12, died near a pond in Palamu area. As per the officials, three children and their mother died in Jamtara district due to lightning strike during the thunderstorm Sunday. Water Department Officials said that the water level in Dams rose near danger levels in Patratu, Chandil Dam, Maithon, Panchet Dams and the gates had to be opened to release the water. However, officials said that situation remained under control Tuesday due to a temporary halt in the rains.
