New Delhi: Several rain-ravaged areas of Uttarakhand, Himachal, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala and the Delhi-NCR region are struggling to cope with flash floods, landslides, severe waterlogging, and major disruptions.
But relief from difficult conditions may be round the corner.
On a day when the southwest monsoon covered the entire country — a day later than its normal July 8 date — the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said rainfall is expected to gradually weaken from Friday.
From July 15, below-normal rains are likely in the country, according to IMD director general of meteorology Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.
“The active phase is now over and from July 10 onwards, rainfall will gradually reduce for the next two weeks,” he said.
The overall monsoon deficit, which stood at -40% on June 30, has come down to -14% as of July 9.
The delayed advance of monsoon came after a sluggish start and a nearly two-week lull. Heavy rainfall in the first week of July helped narrow the all-India monsoon deficit.
“The southwest monsoon further advanced into remaining parts of north Arabian Sea, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab on Thursday. Thus, it has covered the entire country on July 9, against the normal date of July 8,” the IMD stated in its national bulletin, adding that a well-marked low-pressure area remains over southwest Uttar Pradesh and its surrounding region, which should lead to increased rainfall there till July 10.
The Met department issued an Orange alert for Himachal Pradesh over the possibility of landslides or mudslides in various parts of the state including Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla and Sirmaur.
