Southwest Monsoon update: Rainfall likely to increase over west coast, intensity in North East may reduce

The Southwest Monsoon is likely to intensify over the country’s west coast, including Mumbai, central Maharashtra, Vidarbha and Telangana. The monsoons are likely to prevail over parts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, according to a Skymet weather forecast.

Rainfall in parts of central India has been less than satisfactory this year and has been around eight percent below normal, reported Business Standard . However, according to the meteorological department’s latest report, central India is likely to receive more rainfall. Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, southern Rajasthan and northern Maharashtra are all likely to receive heavy rainfall in the next few days.

Meanwhile, heavy rains have been lashing parts of the Northeast for the past two weeks. Around 15 lakh people in 24 districts of Assam were hit by floods. The death toll has reached 45 in the state with the Centre deploying officials of the National Disaster Response Force, NITI Aayog and National Disaster Management Authority.

Heavy rainfall in the upper catchment area of Arunachal Pradesh as well as Assam’s Lakhimpur district, increased water levels of all 14 rivers and tributaries in the district. The India Meteorological Department predicted that the rainfall’s intensity will reduce in the next two weeks.

July and August are crucial months for farmers and if the rainfall deficit continues, it is likely to affect farm output, according to the Business Standard report.

Deficient rainfall in parts of south India has become a cause for concern for the farmers. According to The Hindu Business Line , sowing  of crops like paddy, ragi, pulses and sugarcane have been hit. “The lack of rains is seen prolonging the drought in the southern districts. We are ready with the seeds but there is no rain or water in the reservoirs or canals,” a farmer was quoted as saying.