MC Daily Monsoon Tracker: Nearly 60% of states face extreme rainfall conditions, 8 still in deficit zone

60 percent of states and UTs face extreme weather conditions

Nearly 60 percent of Indian states faced extreme rainfall conditions as on August 28. While eight states were in the deficit zone, 13 faced excess or largely excess rainfall, according to data released by the India Meteorological Department.

The country’s rainfall surplus widened to a 19-day high of 6.8 percent as of August 28 compared with 6.59 percent the previous day.

Punjab topped the league of deficient states 29 percent deficient rainfall compared with the long-period average, also called normal. Three other North Indian states are rainfall deficient with Bihar at 24 percent deficiency, and Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh facing over 20 percent shortfall.

Kharif acreage was 1.9 percent higher than the previous year as on August 27. Rice acreage was 4.3 percent above the 2023 levels, while pulses sowing was 5.7 percent higher.

Pulses inflation remained in double digits for nearly a year now.

Jute and cotton sowing was 10 percent lower than 2023 until August 27.

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

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