Ranchi: The state may have received “normal” monsoon rain on paper, but the season has left a sharply uneven rainfall map, with nine districts facing deficits of 20% or more and a 92-percentage-point gap between the wettest and driest districts, data revealed.From June 1 to Sept 14, the state received 870.9 mm of rain against the normal 913.4 mm, a deficit of 5%. This keeps Jharkhand in the India Meteorological Department’s normal rainfall category. But the state average masks wide district-level variations, with some districts receiving nearly twice as much rain as others. IMD classifies rainfall as deficient when the shortfall is 20% or more.West Singhbhum was the wettest district, recording 1,317.5 mm against its normal 913.6 mm — a surplus of 44%. Pakur, in contrast, received only 528.7 mm against its normal 1,025.6 mm, leaving it with a deficit of 48%.The nine deficit-hit districts are Pakur (48%), Chatra (35%), Deoghar (31%), Gumla (28%), Sahibganj (25%), Koderma (24%), Giridih (23%), Hazaribag (23%) and Garhwa (20%).“Most parts of Jharkhand received normal rainfall, as indicated in the long range forecast. East Singhbhum recorded excess rainfall, while nine districts received deficient rainfall so far,” said Baburaj P P, head of IMD’s Ranchi centre.The contrast was visible in other parts of the state too. Seraikela-Kharsawan recorded 14% more rain than normal, while Ranchi and Latehar each received 13% more. East Singhbhum had a 6% surplus and Simdega was near normal, with a 1% deficit. Ranchi recorded 1,049.9 mm against its seasonal normal of 932 mm.Birsa Agricultural University vice-chancellor SC Dubey said the state had recorded deficits in June, July and parts of Aug, but the seasonal total remained within the normal range. He said the govt had prepared farmers for a possible shortfall after IMD warnings related to El Niño.“Govt had sensitised farmers to cultivate crops that can withstand lower rainfall. Therefore, the deficit in the nine districts is unlikely to have a major impact on agriculture,” Dubey said.Baburaj attributed the uneven distribution to 10 low-pressure systems that formed over the Bay of Bengal during the monsoon. These systems brought more rain to southern and central Jharkhand, while districts bordering Bihar remained comparatively dry.
