M A I N   N E W S

Rain revival hopes fade in North
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 23
India Meteorological Department Director-General Lakshman Singh Rathore today confirmed that the monsoon situation in the plains of the northwest, particularly Punjab, Haryana, Western UP and Jammu and Kashmir, was “not so encouraging”.

A low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal could revive rain around August 28, but it may not push beyond central India. The situation is likely to improve around September 3-4 when the monsoon trough returns to its normal position — south of its current position. The effect of this re-positioning of the monsoon trough will be seen more in central and western parts than the northwest.

“The position of the monsoon trough is not favourable for rains in the northwest. After it shifts closer to its normal position, the region can get sporadic rains if there is a western disturbance, which I can’t see right now,” Rathore said.

In other words, it is curtains for the region so far as this year’s seasonal rains are concerned.

For most part of the coming week, the monsoon trough will remain positioned either close to the foothills of Himalayas or north of its normal position, leading to normal to excess rains and floods in many parts of north and northeast India.

The IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rains over northeast and sub-Himalayan Bengal. However, so far as the northwest is concerned, the forecast is of subdued rainfall activity.

The deficit has now worsened to 32 per cent in the northwest against 26 per cent reported last week. The rain shortfall in Punjab and Haryana, and Delhi and Chandigarh shot up to 64 per cent and 63 per cent, respectively. Western UP is struggling at 55 per cent deficit, while Jammu and Kashmir is deficient by 36 per cent.