Telangana monsoon stalls after Hyderabad entry, state records 21.8% rainfall deficit
HYDERABAD: The southwest monsoon entered Telangana on June 8 through parts of Jogulamba-Gadwal, Wanaparthy and Narayanpet districts. It reached Hyderabad on June 11. However, its advance across the state has slowed. As of June 16, the monsoon remained at the same position it had reached on June 11.
The slow progress has resulted in a rainfall deficit across Telangana. Data from the Telangana Irrigation Decision Support System (TIDSS) shows the state has recorded a 21.8% rainfall shortfall so far this season.
According to TIDSS, Telangana should have received 65.1 mm of cumulative rainfall by this stage of the monsoon. However, actual rainfall stood at 50.9 mm as of Tuesday.
Twenty-three districts record rainfall deficit
Data from more than 1,000 weather stations operated by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Telangana Planning Development Society shows that 23 of the state’s 33 districts have received below-normal rainfall this season.
Meteorologists expect the monsoon to resume its northward advance by the end of this week or early next week. Strong westerly winds over north India are slowing its movement. These winds have extended towards the peninsula and are restricting the monsoon’s progress.
Officials expect the monsoon to cover more parts of Telangana once these winds weaken.
Irrigation department monitors reservoir inflows
The irrigation department is closely tracking rainfall patterns. Monsoon activity directly influences inflows into rivers, streams, reservoirs and irrigation tanks.
A senior irrigation department official said the department is monitoring rainfall in Telangana as well as the catchment areas of the Krishna and Godavari rivers in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Water from these regions flows into Telangana through the two river systems.
As of June 16, reservoirs on the Krishna river held 249.37 tmc ft of water. Their combined storage capacity is 640.97 tmc ft.
Reservoirs on the Godavari river held 96.34 tmc ft of water against a total storage capacity of 418.33 tmc ft.
