Monsoon 15% above normal in past week

Rains might take a break after Monday over north, central India

The southwest monsoon rain during the week ending Wednesday was around 15 per cent more than normal, with strong showers in Rajasthan, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

Several districts of Rajasthan were inundated and the army’s help was needed to rescue stranded citizens. During the week, rain in western parts of the state was 270 per cent above normal; in eastern Rajasthan, 137 per cent above.

In west Madhya Pradesh, rain during the week was 56 per cent above normal. In the Saurashtra and Kutch regions of Gujarat, parched so far in the season, the rain was 286 per cent above normal from August 4.

Overall in this season so far, from June 1 to this Wednesday, the southwest monsoon has been around three per cent above normal, with the most rain in northwest and central India. The metereological department says the rain might subside over these two regions from Monday but continue over eastern India till August 19, decreasing thereafter.

Water levels in 91 major reservoirs noted by the Central Water Commission was around 54 per cent of their full capacity, almost nine percentage points more than  last week.

The good improvement in showers is also expected to push planting of kharif crops, which has crossed last year’s level and is nearing completion, with around 90 per cent of the normal area covered.