1/4th of country ‘rain-deficit’

New Delhi, July 22

With the four-month rainy season almost half over, the rainfall deficiency in the eastern part of the country, especially in Bihar and Jharkhand, has crossed the 40 per cent mark, while a quarter of the country has received “deficient” rainfall, the India Meteorological Department data shows.

Bihar has recorded the highest monsoon deficiency of 48 per cent, while east UP and Jharkhand have recorded 46 and 42 per cent, respectively. The overall monsoon deficiency in the country has, however, dipped to three per cent. The overall deficiency in east and northeast India is 34 per cent, the highest in the country in comparison to the other meteorological divisions of the country.

The Northwest India division, comprising UP, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and J&K, has recorded 9 per cent of negative rainfall or less rainfall than the long period average. The picture is, however, better in southern peninsula and central India, which have recorded 15 and 16 per cent more rainfall than the average, respectively. — PTI