Southwest Monsoon remains active over East and Northeast India. Meghalaya, Sub Himalayan West Bengal, Assam and Bihar witnessed heavy to very heavy showers in last 24 hours and similar pattern of weather conditions are to prevail at least for next 24 hours.
In Bihar, Patna received 178 mm, Bhagalpur 98.4 mm, Purnia 61 mm and Gaya 42 mm of rain. Very heavy showers have been witnessed along the foothills inclusive of Nepal, increasing threat of flood in Bihar.
Cherrapunji and Shillong in Meghalaya received very heavy rain of 300 mm and 111 mm, respectively. In rest of Northeast, Passighat received 95 mm, North Lakhimpur 82 mm and Dhubri 102 mm of rain.
In a span of 24 hours from 8.30 am on Wednesday, Gorakhpur in east Uttar Pradesh has observed 64 mm of rain.
The Monsoon trough is shifting closer to the foothills with an embedded low level cyclonic circulation over Bihar and east Uttar Pradesh. Consequently, East and Northeast India will continue to receive good showers with heavy in pockets for next 48 hours.
Double trouble for Bihar
Southwest Monsoon began on a weak note over Bihar, with June leaving a rainfall deficit of 32%. July saw some recovery but the deficit was still large at 23% against the national cumulative deficit of 10% for the month. The deficit has been rising by 1% every two days in August and had touched 29% on 11th August.
Deficit rain in June and July caused immense loss to farmers who are highly dependent on Monsoon rain for the sowing of Paddy crops. But now the situation has drastic turn of fate and flood-like situation seems the order of the day.
Rain deficit has reduced marginally to settle at 28% now. In fact the present spell will ease out the situation and could bring down the deficiency to lower-twenties.
