The state experienced a bleak monsoon in June with at least two districts receiving up to 91% deficient rainfall. Overall, Bihar saw an average rain deficiency of 43% with 32 of 38 districts logging deficient rainfall.
West Champaran was the lone district to have got surplus rains (in excess of 55%) in June. India Meteorological Department (IMD) data shows only five districts received normal rainfall (+/- 19%) till June 26.
Patna, too, received a 68% deficient rainfall in the first month of four-month monsoon season (June- September).
Altogether 13 districts received deficient rainfall (-20 to -59%), while 18 districts received scanty rainfall— where rain deficiency is 60% and above. Begusarai and Sheikhpura received the lowest with 91% less than normal rainfall from 1st to 26th June.
Weathermen attributed the poor rainfall to delayed onset of southwest monsoon in the state along with scanty pre-monsoon showers. The southwest monsoon hit Bihar on 21st June, after a delay of at least 11 days from the corresponding normal entry.
“Weather conditions were not conducive for good rainfall in Bihar even after the delayed onset of monsoon. Dry westerly winds continue to blow in the region, rather than moist easterly winds. As a result, the rains lack intensity,” said a senior official at Patna meteorological centre.
He, however, added that weather conditions became conducive on Monday for a likely increase in rainfall across the state over the next one week. “A cyclonic circulation is forming in northwest Bay of Bengal and it is moving in the north-west direction. It will lead to moisture- incursion in the region, which in turn is expected to intensify rainfall in east and north- east India over till July 7,” the MeT official said.
The official claimed that the prevailing weather scenario indicates that the state-wide monsoon rainfall deficiency might be covered significantly in July. “Though we are not expecting vigorous rainfall in the state as of now, but light to moderate showers are likely to occur over the next few days,” the MeT official said.
Farmers are eagerly awaiting the recovery of monsoon in July, which will help paddy cultivation. “Most of us have sown paddy seedlings late this time owing to the delay in onset of monsoon and we are now awaiting good rainfall to ensure knee-deep water to pave way for transplantation of paddy saplings. Paddy transplantation is done from the beginning of July to mid-August,” said Prem Chand Tiwari, a farmer at Bhore block in Gopalganj district.
Bihar and 32 districts affected by 43% rain deficit in June
