Delhi, Friday, July 27 With a rain-deficit of 55% over east Gujarat and 77% over Saurashtra and Kutch, concerns whether the state is heading for a drought are rife.
The situation remains grim in the state, even if showers are expected over east Gujarat in the next twenty four hours. The present cyclonic circulation over northwest Madhya Pradesh is to bring rain in eastern parts of the state but that is not going to reduce the rain-deficit over entire Gujarat. Coastal Gujarat has been receiving rains but the intensity is light.
The monsoon makes way into the state by June 10 but the late arrival and the absence of any weather system over north Arabian Sea has marred the state's prospects of getting good rainfall. East Gujarat should have received 395 mm of rain till July 25 but only 182.1 mm of rain was recorded while in Saurashtra and Kutch, showers should have been in excess of 240 mm but a paltry 56.3 mm was received during this period.
The moisture laden southwesterly winds usually bring precipitation in the state but they need a low or a cyclonic circulation over the north Arabian Sea to anchor them.
Rains are still away from the state as the north Arabian Sea fails to throw any significant weather system in the vicinity.
