Wettest August in India since 1976

New Delhi, August 29

The rainfall India received during August this year has been the highest for the month in the past 44 years, according to the IMD data.

Until August 28, the month recorded 25 per cent surplus rainfall. It has also surpassed the previous highest rainfall in August, which was recorded in 1983. In that year, August had recorded a 23.8 per cent excess rainfall.

As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, the country had recorded a 28.4 per cent excess rainfall in August 1976.

The country has so far recorded 9 per cent more rainfall than normal. Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Goa have recorded excess rainfall, while Sikkim has recorded a large excess. Many states witnessed floods as rivers swelled. According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), the overall storage position of the reservoirs in the country till August 27 was better than the corresponding period last year. It was also better than the average storage for the last 10 years during the corresponding period, the CWC said.

“Better than normal storage” is available in the basins of the Ganga, Narmada, Tapi, Mahi, Sabarmati, the rivers of Kutch, Godavari, Krishna, Mahanadi, Cauvery, the neighbouring east-flowing rivers and the west-flowing rivers of south India, the CWC said. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland have recorded a deficient rainfall. — PTI