Kerala is submerged under the devastation of a lifetime but in a cruel irony, heavy rains in the state have given a boost to the monsoon's performance in south India. The region has received surplus rains to the tune of 11 percent surplus so far, the best among all regions in the country.
This, however, doesn't reflect the skewed rain distribution in the entire region. Outside Kerala and coastal Andhra Pradesh, half the districts in south India are grappling with drought-like situation and experiencing deficient rainfall. Of the 95 districts in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Rayalseema, 47 have had scanty rainfall so far. Five districts have had deficits to the extent of more than 60 percent. Rayalseema has been the worst hit with the highest deficit of 42 percent, more than that of west Rajasthan.
According to reports, at least 16 districts in Karnataka have recorded deficient rainfall with the government mulling declaring them drought-hit. According to data provided by the revenue department, four districts in south interior and 12 in north interior Karnataka had received less rainfall during the south-west monsoon since June this year.
Data released by State Emergency Operation Centre said districts of Raichur, Vijayapura, Yadgir and Gadag were the worst affected following scanty rainfall. At the same time, areas like Kodagu, Shivamogga, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Udupi received above normal rainfall and are reeling under flood fury. According to director of the State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre Dr GS Srinivasa Reddy, the government is in process to declare the districts which received less rainfall as drought hit and begin relief measures.
A Times of India report said that south India is the only region in the country to experience surplus rainfall this year. Overall, the monsoon in India is 7 percent less than normal.
