PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, June 23: The southwest monsoon which entered Jharkhand on June 19, after a delay of four days is yet to cover the entire state so far.
According to the forecast, conditions are favourable for further advancement of southwest monsoon over some more parts of south Peninsular India, remaining parts of Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar during the next 48- hours.
“The monsoon current is weak and this is resulting in its slow movement, ” said an official at IMD’s Ranchi Meteorological Centre.
The inadequate rainfall after the monsoon’s onset in Jharkhand has so far resulted in a rain deficit of 74 per cent, which is a cause of worry for those associated with agriculture and allied products.
Statistics revealed that against a normal of 112.1 mm, the state has so far received a meagre rainfall of 28.9 mm, a deficit of 74 per cent.
All 24 districts were facing a rain deficit. In some districts like Bokaro, Dhanbad, Chatra, Gumla, Godda, Jamtara, Pakur, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Giridih and capital Ranchi the deficit ranges between 70 and 96 per cent while in the rest of the districts, the deficit figures are above 60 per cent.
The Northern Limit of Monsoon was today passing through Ratnagiri, Raichur, Khammam, Malkangiri, Paralakhemundi, Haldia, Bokaro, Patna and Raxaul.
A trough from south Punjab to west Bihar was running from south Punjab to the cyclonic circulation associated with the low-pressure area over central parts of Uttar Pradesh and extending up to 1.5 km above mean sea level.
IMD Ranchi Meteorological Centre’s forecast for the next 48- hours suggest thunderstorm and rain at isolated places over the state.