41 Odisha blocks record deficit rainfall last month: SRC

At least 41 blocks of the 314 blocks in Odisha have received deficit rainfall between 19 per cent and 39 per cent last month even as the state recorded a surplus rainfall of 28.9 per cent in July, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said.

Another 17 blocks in four districts experienced severe rainfall deficit ranging between minus 39 per cent to minus 59 per cent, the SRC said.

The 17 blocks are located in Angul, Sundergarh, Bolangir and Nuapada districts, they said.

On the block-wise rainfall received in June-July, the SRC said 103 blocks received surplus rainfall of more than 19 per cent from June 1 to August 1 while 153 blocks received normal rainfall (19 per cent to minus 19 per cent) during the same period.

The SRC said, eight districts have received surplus rainfall of more than 19 per cent whereas another 18 districts have received normal rainfall (19 per cent to minus 19 per cent) from June 1 to August 1.

Average rainfall of the remaining 4 districts -- Angul, Sundergarh, Balangir and Nuapada -- has remained deficit by minus 20.9 per cent, minus 21.2 per cent, minus 24.2 per cent and minus 29.3 per cent respectively.

Official sources, the state received average rainfall of 438.0 mm against the long term average (LTA) of 339.9 mm in July.

Malkangiri district received the highest rainfall of 761.6 mm while Nuapada district with 277 mm rainfall experienced the lowest rainfall in any area last month.

Puri district registered the maximum surplus rainfall of 119.5 per cent while Nuapada received the maximum deficit rainfall of 20.2 per cent for the month.

Though the state normally experiences 15.4 rainy days in July, there were 15.6 rainy days in July this year, the SRC said.