Rain shortfall in 5 North Eastern states, deficit highest in Manipur

GUWAHATI: Five northern eastern states have received deficit rainfall this monsoon with Manipur recording the highest rain shortfall in the country. The other four states that received deficit rainfall are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland.
The state-wise rainfall distribution statistics released by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) from June 1 to July 17 shows that Manipur received 69% deficit rainfall, which is the highest in the country since the onset of monsoon.IMD data also shows that the depreciation in rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh during the period has been 32%, while in Assam and Meghalaya the deficit was recorded to be 26% and 42% respectively. Nagaland also registered a deficit rainfall of 38%.
However, IMD data shows that the rainfall received in Mizoram and Tripura since June 1 has been normal.
NE can still receive heavy rain: IMD
As the monsoon goes on till the end of September, official sources in IMD said the decrease in rainfall in the northeast is still not a cause for concern. "Despite the deficit rainfall in most of the northeastern states this season, there is no reason to speculate that a drought might occur soon. Two months are still left till the departure of monsoon from the northeast and the states can receive heavy rainfall," said a senior official of the IMD.
Despite the deficiency in rainfall, the forecast issued by the IMD on Tuesday evening is encouraging for the states of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura as fairly widespread rain is on the radar for the next three days. However, only scattered rainfall is in sight for Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya till Friday.
Data with the IMD's Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) based in Guwahati indicates that during the last 24 hours, light to moderate rain occurred at many places across Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura. A few places across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya also received light to moderate rain while places across Manipur received light rain. There were also isolated instances of heavy rain across Assam during the period.