PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Aug 1: July, the second month of monsoon ended with a 46 per cent rain deficit in Jharkhand.
Rainfall in July was not enough to make up for the deficit as the month witnessed an average of 11 rain days.
Met statistics indicated that Jharkhand recorded 274.7 mm of rain at the end of July, against the normal of 508.2mm, resulting in the deficit.
IMD’s rainfall statistics revealed that almost all 24 districts have received lesser rain this year. At the end of July, considered the peak monsoon month all 24 districts figure in the rain-losers list.
According to statistics, at the end of July Chatra district was facing a 70 per cent deficit while several other districts like Dhanbad, Giridih, Jamtara and Lohardaga were facing over 60 per cent rain deficit which is a matter of concern as the threat of drought looms large in those districts.
Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Deoghar, Dumka, Garhwa, Pakur, Palamau, Ramgarh, Latehar, Gumla and West Singhbhum were facing rain deficits between 35 and 50 per cent.
Southwest monsoon activity was normal in the state during the past 48- hours.
Several places in southern, eastern and central Jharkhand witnessed a good spell of rain during the past two days.
Weathermen said Jharkhand is expected to witness fairly widespread rain in the next few days which will help in reducing the deficit.
The axis of the monsoon trough was passing through Darbhanga (Bihar) and Deoghar.
“We are expecting heavy rain in some of the districts in the first week of August,” said a duty officer at the Regional Met Centre in Alipore, Calcutta.
Met data revealed that in 2022, 2019 and 2018, July had received lesser rainfall.
July 2017 and July 2021 were the wettest in the state, with rainfall figures ending at a surplus margin of around 14 per cent.
