Jharkhand’s monsoon deficit narrows to 26% as late revival fails to offset early shortfall

Jharkhand ended the second month of the southwest monsoon with an overall rainfall deficit of 26 per cent, as a late but intense spell of rain in the final week of July was not enough to fully offset the massive shortfall accumulated earlier in the season.

The state received 376.2 mm of rainfall against the normal 508.2 mm between June 1 and July 31, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), underlining a highly uneven distribution of precipitation across districts.

The latest figures, released by the Meteorological Centre, Ranchi, show that only West Singhbhum recorded above-normal rainfall, receiving 573.7 mm against a normal of 493.6 mm, a surplus of 16 per cent.

East Singhbhum staged a remarkable recovery too, ending the period with just a 9 per cent deficit after recording 494.2 mm against the normal 543.2 mm. Seraikela-Kharsawan fared even better, with a shortfall of only 7 per cent, while Simdega came close to normal rainfall with a marginal 3 per cent deficit.

Several districts, however, continued to reel under severe shortfalls. Chatra emerged as the worst-hit, with a 62 per cent deficit, followed closely by Garhwa at 63 per cent, placing both districts in the “scanty rainfall” category.

Other districts with sharp deficits included Pakur (-58%), Deoghar (-54%), Koderma (-49%), Godda (-48%), Giridih (-45%), Palamu (-44%), Hazaribagh (-38%), Bokaro (-36%), Ramgarh (-34%), Latehar (-33%), Gumla (-32%) and Lohardaga (-31%).

Ranchi (-16%), Dumka (-18%), Khunti (-18%) and Sahibganj (-17%) remained within the IMD’s “normal” rainfall category.

The figures mark a significant improvement from the end of June, when the first month of the monsoon had closed with a statewide deficit of over 50 per cent, triggering concern over agriculture, water availability and reservoir levels.

Persistent dry conditions through June had delayed sowing operations in several districts and stoked fears of drought-like conditions.

Successive low-pressure systems over the Bay of Bengal, along with a vigorous monsoon phase in the second half of July, significantly boosted rainfall across large parts of the state, helping trim the overall deficit to 26 per cent by month’s end.

Meanwhile, the IMD has forecast a temporary lull in heavy rainfall activity, as the deep depression that triggered widespread rain over eastern and central India continues to weaken over west-central Chhattisgarh and adjoining Vidarbha and southeast Madhya Pradesh.

The system is expected to weaken further as it moves westwards, reducing its influence on Jharkhand’s weather and offering relief to areas hit by waterlogging and overflowing rivers.

However, conditions will remain favourable for isolated thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40 to 50 kmph across the state from July 31 to August 3.

Meteorologists said that although the monsoon trough and an east-west shear zone remain active over central India, they are now likely to trigger only isolated thunderstorm activity rather than widespread heavy rain.

“While widespread rain activity will decrease, isolated thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds are likely to continue over the next few days. People should remain alert and follow official weather advisories, particularly during lightning events,” an IMD official said.

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