Jamshedpur: The southwest monsoon has lost steam over Jharkhand, leaving the state with a significant 52 per cent rainfall deficit in the first half of June and raising concerns among farmers awaiting the start of the sowing season.
According to the Meteorological Centre in Ranchi, Jharkhand received just 29.3 mm of rainfall between June 1 and June 16, well below the normal average of 61.1 mm for the period. The prolonged dry spell has affected most districts, delaying agricultural activities and increasing worries over water availability.
The worst-hit districts are Chatra and Garhwa, which have not received any rainfall this month, resulting in a 100 per cent deficit. Palamu and Sahibganj have recorded a 96 per cent shortfall, while Lohardaga (94 per cent), Seraikela-Kharsawan (80 per cent) and Khunti (79 per cent) are also grappling with severe rain scarcity.
In contrast, Ranchi has emerged as the state’s only major rain surplus district, receiving 86.4 mm of rainfall against the normal 62.1 mm, a surplus of 39 per cent. Ramgarh has also fared relatively better with a deficit of only 15 per cent.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the Northern Limit of Monsoon currently passes through Harnai, Solapur, Hyderabad, Bhadrachalam, Koraput, Phulbani, Ranchi, Jamui and Muzaffarpur. While the monsoon has entered parts of Jharkhand, it is yet to cover the entire state.
Despite the sluggish start, weather officials remain optimistic. They say atmospheric conditions are becoming favourable for the monsoon to advance further across Jharkhand and neighbouring regions over the next four to five days.
The IMD has also issued thunderstorm and lightning advisories across the state. Southern and central districts are likely to experience thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40–50 kmph on June 17 and 18. On June 19, eastern and adjoining central districts may witness stronger winds of 50–60 kmph, while gusts of up to 50 kmph are expected elsewhere. Thunderstorm activity is likely to continue on June 20 and 21.
Residents say the delayed monsoon is becoming increasingly evident. “The heat and humidity have become unbearable. We expected regular monsoon showers by now, but the rains have been patchy and far below normal,” said Rakesh Sharma, a resident of Bistupur in Jamshedpur.
Sharing similar concerns, Sakina Parveen from Mango said many farmers in nearby villages are waiting for sufficient rainfall before beginning sowing operations. “Everyone is hoping the monsoon becomes active soon,” she said.
Meteorologists believe the expected advancement of the southwest monsoon, along with widespread thunderstorm activity over the coming days, could improve rainfall distribution across the state and provide much-needed relief to farmers and the agriculture sector.