Nagpur: After an unusually dry June, the southwest monsoon has made a strong comeback across Vidarbha in the first week of July, with Gondia recording 174.8 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours till Saturday morning — the highest 24-hour rainfall recorded in the district for July in the last 14 years. Before this, the rice-bowl district received the highest 24-hour rainfall of 198.2 mm on July 27, 2012.The torrential downpour, which began around midnight on Thursday, continued through Friday before easing briefly and returning in several parts of the district on Saturday evening. Gondia, Goregaon, Amgaon and Salekasa tehsils received very heavy rainfall, bringing much-needed relief to farmers after a prolonged dry spell that delayed paddy sowing and transplantation.By the end of June, Gondia received only 53.1 mm rainfall, barely 27.5% of its seasonal average, causing concern over water availability and agricultural operations.While the latest wet spell has replenished soil moisture and reservoirs, continuous showers have also caused waterlogging in several low-lying fields, forcing some farmers to breach field bunds to drain excess water.The heavy inflows have also prompted authorities to open four gates of the Pujaritola Dam.As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Gondia received 174.8mm rainfall during the 24 hours ending 8.30am on Saturday, the highest in Vidarbha. Yavatmal received 60mm rainfall, Chandrapur 55 mm, Bhandara 15mm, Amravati 13.4mm, Washim 11.8mm, Wardha 11.4mm, Buldhana 7mm, Akola and Gadchiroli 5.2mm each, Nagpur 5.1mm and Brahmapuri 1.8mm.The persistent rains have also improved water storage across the region. In Bhandara district, rising inflows into the Wainganga river led to the opening of all 33 gates of the Gosikhurd Dam, releasing water downstream. In Buldhana, the Nalganga Dam in Motala tehsil has filled to 51% of its capacity.
