The heavy rains lashing parts of central, southwest and northern India is likely to continue to for some days as the withdrawal of southwest monsoon from the country has been delayed by almost 15 days.
The India meteorological department (IMD) in its latest weather forecast said, normally, the southwest monsoon starts withdrawing from western parts of Rajasthan around September 1. ?However, in view of north-south oscillation of monsoon trough and continuation easterly flow over northwest India, the withdrawal of monsoon is not expected to commence till middle of September,? the IMD said.
The met office said widespread rainfall activity is expected over Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Delhi during the first half of this week. While rainfall activity would increase in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan from September 6 onwards. Widespread rainfall is also expected over north-eastern parts of the country, which till now received scattered rains, the IMD said.
Till now, between June 1 to September 1, India has received rains equivalent to 99% of long period average (LPA) as against the normal showers of 102% of LPA, which makes it mere 2 below normal and well within permissible limits. Southern India has lead the way with rains totalling 119% of LPA, as against a normal of 102% of LPA during the June 1 to September 1 period. Northwest India comprising of major foodgrains growing states of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh has received rainfalls of around 105% of LPA as against a normal of 102% of LPA. Rains in central India too have been well above normal till now.
However, the problematic area still remains north-eastern parts of country comprising of major paddy (de-husked rice) growing states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa. Here rainfall between June 1 to September 1 has been around 79% of LPA which is well below normal rains of 103% of LPA.
The good rains have helped in boosting the area under kharif crops which till last week was estimated to be around 966 lakh hectare, almost 83 lakh hectare more than last year, with big gains coming in paddy, pulses and oilseeds.