Northeast Records Scanty Rainfall

By Sinlung
Guwahati, Jun 22: The Northeast has received below normal rainfall during the first 25 days of monsoon with Meghalaya and Nagaland recording a huge deficit in monsoon rain.
The director of the Regional Meteorological Centre, Guwahati, B.K. Handique, said during the first 25 days of the monsoon season, Meghalaya and Nagaland were the worst affected, with the deficit touching 75 and 60 per cent respectively.
“From the onset of the monsoon on May 25 till June 19, Meghalaya has received 75 per cent and Nagaland 60 per cent less than the normal rainfall during this period,” he said.
Scanty rainfall in Meghalaya, the abode of clouds, and Nagaland is a cause for concern as the deficit in these states is even higher than the national average of 45 per cent.
“Although the monsoon set over the region on May 25, the northeastern states received lower than normal rainfall so far because of weakening of the monsoon current as there is no fresh surge developed either in the Bay of Bengal or in the Arabian Sea,” Handique said.
According to the data available with the RMC Guwahati, Assam has recorded 31 per cent deficit, Arunachal Pradesh 35 per cent, Manipur 38 per cent, Mizoram 36 per cent and Tripura 21 per cent between May 25 and June 19.