July rainfall deficit leaves NE states parched

GUWAHATI: Below-normal rainfall activities in July has left northeast thirsty, ruining the hope carried by good amount of rainfall soon after the onset of monsoon in June.
Data accessed from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) revealed that between July 1 and 31, four of the seven northeastern states - Assam (-38%), Meghalaya (-35%), Mizoram (-36%) and Tripura (-27%) - received deficit rainfall. Manipur recorded a large deficit with 61% below normal. Only in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, rainfall was in the normal range despite 8% departure each in both the states.
IMD considers departure of rainfall between -19% and 19% as normal. Considering the same calculations, four of the seven NE states - Assam (5%), Meghalaya (16%), Nagaland (-18%) and Tripura (-13%) - received normal rainfall in June. Arunachal Pradesh (-31%), Manipur (-40%) and Mizoram (-32%) received deficit rainfall in June.
IMD statistics have shown that in the first two months of this monsoon season (from June 1 to July 31), none of the northeastern states recorded excess rainfall. Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh received comparatively better rainfall with departure from normal recorded to be -10, -11 and -12%. Assam and Tripura also were placed in the normal range though departure was -16 and -19 respectively. But Manipur was reeling with the highest -51% deficit from normal rainfall since June 1, followed by Mizoram (-34%).
In Assam, the highest rice-producing state in the northeast, farmers in several districts were affected due to rainfall scarcity in July - the peak season of paddy sowing.