NE to receive heavy rainfall, warns IMD

New Delhi: Several parts of North-east and eastern India are experiencing a flood-like situation as multiple weather stations in Assam, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Bihar and sub-himalayan West Bengal have reported extremely heavy rains (above 20cm in a day) continuously for the past two to three days.

According to officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the eastern end of the monsoon trough continues to run along the Himalayan foothills, with the convergence of strong southerly and southwesterly winds from the Bay of Bengal over North-east and east India. This is likely to lead to heavy and widespread rain in many parts of North-east India in the next four to five days.

“Assam is reporting floods. Bihar is also in a flood-like situation. Cherrapunji, which is known to receive a lot of rain at this time, has recorded as much as 50-55cm in a day. This pattern of continuous heavy rain will gradually reduce from June 30; from July 2, rains will increase in central India; and from July 5, we can expect rains to resume over north-west India,” said M Mohapatra, IMD’S director general.

Heavy rains are expected in Bihar, east Uttar Pradesh, subhimalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during the next five days. Widespread rain is also expected over Madhya Pradesh for the next five days, and over Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha on June 29 and 30. There will be widespread rain in the west coast also this week, IMD said. The Central Water Commission has, meanwhile, warned of “above-normal” flood situation in Dharamtul, Brahmaputra, Dhubri, Goalpara and others, and “severe” flood situation in Kopili and Kampur in Assam. Monsoon covered the entire country on June 26, 12 days in advance of its usual pattern. Till June 28, the monsoon rains in the country are 20% in excess of the long period average (LPA) -- 36% over central India, 8% over northwest India, 4% over the southern peninsula, and 20% over east and North-east India. IMD has predicted a normal monsoon this year at 102% of LPA.