MC Daily Monsoon Tracker: More than half of the states face extreme rainfall conditions

19 of 36 states and UTs face extreme rainfall condiitons

India’s rainfall surplus widened to 5.6 percent above normal as of August 26 compared with 5 percent the previous day, but 19 of the 36 states/union territories continued to face extreme weather conditions, according to data released by India Meteorological Department.

However, despite more than normal rainfall across the country, seven states and union territories continue to face deficient rainfall conditions. Among them Punjab and Chandigarh face over 30 percent deficit.

Tamil Nadu has been experiencing large excess rainfall with precipitation 71 percent above normal. Eleven other states/UTs have been witnessing excess rainfall. Most of the regions belong to Southern Peninsula.

Reservoir levels were 12 percent above normal on August 22, data released by the Central Water Commission showed.

Though the 150 reservoirs had a 112 percent higher combined storage capacity than the decadal average, northern states continue to see a shortfall of 30 percent.

Himachal, Punjab and Rajasthan, Bihar had a deficit of 26 percent, while Bengal was 12 percent below the 10-year average.

Kharif sowing has been just 2.1 percent higher at 103.2 million hectares from the previous year, according to data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare on August 20. Paddy sowing is up 5.6 percent at 36.9 million hectares and pulses are 5.7 percent higher. Jute sowing is down 13 percent and cotton acreage is 9 percent lower than the previous year.