Northeast receives uneven rains during monsoon

The mountainous northeast India experienced uneven monsoon rains though Assam and a few other states witnessed flood fury, officials of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday.

According to an IMD report, last year also seven northeastern states, except Sikkim, witnessed deficient rainfall during the four-month monsoon (June-September).

IMD Director Dilip Saha told IANS: "The monsoon would be withdrawn from the northeastern region in the second week of October. The monsoon has departed from major parts of north India."

The IMD report said that Assam and Meghalaya sub-division and Arunachal Pradesh sub-division recorded around 11-12 per cent deficient rain in the four-month monsoon period.

Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura sub-division recorded 24 per cent excess rainfall from June to September.

The seven northeastern states are divided into three sub-divisions -- Assam and Meghalaya; Arunachal Pradesh; and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.

Sikkim and north West Bengal form a separate sub-division of IMD.

According to the IMD report, Assam and Meghalaya sub-division recorded 1549.6 mm rainfall (actual) from June to September against the average of 1768.5 mm. Arunachal Pradesh sub-division witnessed 1552.4 mm rainfall (actual) during this period against an average of 1739.2 mm.

The Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura sub-division recorded 1825.8 mm of rainfall (actual) against an average of 1472.7 mm.

"Rain producing systems, including deep depressions, were very much active in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura sub-division resulting in good rainfall. However, the huge deficiencies in rainfall were covered in the later part of the monsoon in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh," IMD Director Dilip Saha said in Agartala.

"The frequency of movement of monsoon factors were also favourable in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura sub-division," he said adding that in the northeast, though the normal monsoon period is June to September, it some times continues until the first or second week of October.

According to IMD stipulation, Saha said if the monsoon rainfall recorded plus minus 19 per cent it would be termed as normal, if it recorded plus 20 per cent it would be described as excess and minus 20 per cent to minus 59 per cent would be notified as deficient.

The official said that when compared to the average rainfall during the southwest monsoon, Tripura has received excess rainfall of 34 per cent with the state recording 1963.8 mm rainfall (actual) against the average of 1471.9 mm.

"After 2007, the state has recorded such an excess rainfall during the monsoon," he added.

An expert of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said floods and excess rainfall are affecting crops, especially vegetables, in the northeast region despite good pre-monsoon rainfall recorded in most parts of the region.

"The three-phases of floods have damaged huge crops and vegetables in most parts of Assam and some northeastern states," he added.

According to private weather forecaster Skymet, the northeastern states normally receive heavy rainfall during monsoon and the monthly average for many stations is more than 1,000 mm.

"The rain deficit may reduce to some extent but not completely as the intensity of rain is not very heavy. Weather across the sister states is pleasant and the temperatures will also continue to remain below normal," the Skymet forecast added.