Deficit rain in 27 blocks despite heavy precipitation in

As many as 27 of Odisha's 314 blocks have received deficit rainfall during this monsoon even as the state's average rain comes to a surplus of 16.8 per cent, officials said Tuesday.

Of the 27 blocks, four - three in Bolangir district and one in Koraput district - have recorded severely deficit rainfall, officials at the Special Relief Commissioner's (SRC) office here said.

The lowest rain - a deficit rain of 47.8 per cent - was received by Belpada block in Bolangir.

The 23 other blocks which recorded deficit rainfall are in Angul (3 blocks), Sundergarhh (5), Mayurbhanj (4), two each blocks in Bolangir and Bargarah, one block each in Balasore, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Koraput, Nawrangpur, Nayagarh and Sambalpur, the officials said.

The cumulative average rainfall of the state from June 1 till September 11 comes to a surplus of 16.8 per cent over the long term average rainfall, they said.

The IMD in its forecasts said heavy rainfall is likely to occur at one or two places over Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal and Deogarh districts during next 24 hours.

All major rivers in the state are flowing below the danger level, SRC sources said.