South peninsula to get rains till September end: Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology

PUNE: According to the latest extended range forecast of Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), rainfall is expected to improve over south India and central India, including the drought-hit Maharashtra over next 10 to 15 days.

This will give some relief to the drought affected parts in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Issued based on the initial conditions of September 13, the IITM forecast for next 15 to 20 days expects moderate to heavy rainfall over parts of Maharashtra, west coast and east coast till the end of the month.

The region needs rains not only to save the crops but also to augment the reservoirs for taking care of the drinking water requirements of cities and villages till the next monsoon season. The reservoirs in Maharashtra have only about 50 per cent water storage as compared to 75 per cent during same period of previous year.

The country as a whole had a rainfall deficiency of 16 per cent as on September 13, while it is the highest in central India at 21 per cent, followed by north west Indian and south peninsula at -19 per cent and -15 per cent respectively. Only 50 per cent area of the country has received normal rainfall and 6 per cent area received excess rainfall, leaving 44 per cent area with deficient rainfall.