La Niña intensifies: August and September to see more rain; Kerala in fear as IMD gives warning

NEW DELHI: The Indian Meteorological Department has warned that the country will receive more rain than usual in the months of August and September. The warning states that favourable conditions for the La Nina phenomenon are likely to emerge by the end of this month, which will result in heavy rainfall. The states including Kerala are looking with fear at the indications that there is a possibility of heavy rain across the country.

Vigilance may be intensified in the hilly areas of the state. The state government will try to make preparations in the wake of the Wayanad Mundakkai and Chooralmala landslides. Agriculture and power generation in the country depend on monsoon rains. However, crop damage and floods are experienced in most states even during normal rains. Hence, many states are looking at the warning of intense rains with fear.

IMD also estimates that India's rainfall in August and September will be 106 percent of the long-term average of 422.8 mm. An average rainfall of 445.8 mm should be received from June 1, but this time the rainfall received so far is 453.8 mm. Average to above-average rainfall is forecast over most parts of the country.

Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, head of IMD, said that below-normal rainfall is expected in North-East, East India, Ladakh, Saurashtra and Kutch regions. Deficient rainfall is also expected in some parts of the western Himalayan region during August-September. According to the Meteorological Department, India received nine percent more rainfall than the average in July.