Only 43.4 mm of Rainfall in First Spell of Monsoon

In an indication of a weak monsoon, the country received 45 per cent lesser rainfall that what was expected in its first spell, the IMD has said.

According to Meteorological Department, the country has received 43.4 mm of rainfall as compared to normal rain of 78.8 mm from June 1 to June 17.

However, the condition is expected to improve in July and August.

"Out of 36 meteorological subdivisions, the rainfall has been excess over 01, normal over 07 and deficient over 18 and scanty over 10," the department said.

Northwest India is the worst hit receiving only 13.6 mm as compared to 28.7 mm, which is 53 per cent less than the normal rainfall.

Central India received 31.7 mm, which is 52 per cent less than the normal rainfall of 66.2 mm. Similar is the case with east and northeast India. It received 100.1 mm of rainfall as compared normal rainfall of 191.2 mm, which is 27 per cent less.

Although the South Peninsula received 64.0 mm of rainfall as compared to 87.6, which is 27 per cent less than the normal rainfall, the region has fared better than the rest of the country in terms of precipitation.

However, large parts of the Southern peninsula like mKerala, coastal Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, Telangana and Vidharba region have received deficient rainfall.

Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Marathwada region of Maharashtra have received scanty rainfall.

"The monsoon season rainfall for the country as a whole between June and September is likely to be below normal at 93 per cent of the long period average with a model error of plus/minus 4 per cent," Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh had said earlier this month. In April, the Met Department had predicted a below normal monsoon at 95 per cent. The less rainfall is being attributed to El Nino condition, whose chances of occurrence are as high as 70 per cent.