Rain Watch for Aug 1-7: Above-average showers, floods and landslide in few regions

Excess rainfall has led to multiple flooding and landslide incidents in the northern and southern regions, resulting in loss of lives and property. Image: Getty Images

The first half of monsoon season saw scanty rainfall in few regions of the country and an excess in the rest, leading to a flood situation devastating lives and property.  However, sowing of kharif crops has been impressive so far, while water storage in reservoirs has also increased.

On a cumulative basis, rainfall was 6.3 percent above the long-period average (LPA) as of August 4, according to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) data analysis by Barclays. This compares to 2.7 percent LPA rainfall in last week. With that, the first half of the monsoon season concluded with another week of above-average rainfall, says Barclays. 

Excess rainfall was almost broad-based across regions, with deficit reducing in rainfall deficient regions like northwest and surplus increasing in regions which were already experiencing excess rainfall like south and central India. However, excess rainfall has led to multiple flooding and landslide incidents in the northern and southern regions, resulting in loss of lives and property.  On July 30, heavy rainfall led to massive landslides in the Wayanad district of Kerala, which killed people and destroyed major agricultural land.  Till the seventh day of rescue operation in Wayand, death toll was reportedly over 360 with more than 150 still missing.