June 2024: District wise rainfall in India’s SW Monsoon

In the just concluded month June 2024, the first month of India’s South West 2023 monsoon, India received 147.2 mm rainfall, 11% below the normal June rainfall of 165.3 mm as per India Meteorological department. In June 2023 rainfall was 148.6 mm (10% below normal)[i], in June 2022 the rainfall was 152.3 mm (8% below normal)[ii], in June 2021, the rainfall was 182.9 mm [iii] (about 11% above normal) and in June 2020, the rainfall was 196.9 mm (about 18% above normal) and in June 2019 it was 33% below normal. So in six years from 2019 to 2024, India had below normal rainfall in 4 years in June, and above normal in two years (2020 and 2021). Six times in last ten years and nine times since 2008 June rainfall was below normal.

However, the distribution of rainfall has been far from normal in June 2024, both temporally and spatially.

EDIT Learning to live with shifts in monsoon So far, Monsoon’s performance is in keeping with the trend of below-normal rainfall in June 2024, proper onset only in July, and prolonged, heavy rainfall in September. While the exact causes remain unclear, one explanation for the shift in monsoon patterns is delayed western disturbances and Arctic Sea Ice melting as a result of the climate crisis. What is clear is that the country should prepare for the new character of the weather system, which brings with it erratic rainfall distribution, an increasing number of dry days, and abnormally high night temperatures. A dry June hurts the kharif crop, heavy rainfall days in July hurts vegetable output, and the season continuing well beyond September means a delay in the rabi crop.

The climate crisis calls for focus on devising policies that can deal with these threats adequately and puts the onus on even local governments to ensure proper implementation. https://www.hindustantimes.com/editorials/learning-to-live-with-shifts-in-monsoon-101719331042163.html (25 June 2024)

Study Shrinking Arctic ice behind high summer rainfall in IndiaAccording to this (Bhaskar June 26 2024) report new research suggests that there is inverse relation between status of ice in middle Arctic in March to May and rainfall in India in June in North East, South and Centre. If the ice melts, there is heavy rainfall and if it accumulates, there is deficit. Similarly, there is some relation with North Pole Barent Kara Sea ice situation and rainfall in NW India. These are conclusions of research for the period June 1979 to Sept 2021 by scientists of National Polar and Ocean Research Centre in Goa. This can help better forecast of monsoon rain pattern. https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Jun/27/research-reveals-shrinking-arctic-ice-behind-high-summer-rainfall-in-india (27 June 2024)

Report Data points to monsoon pattern shiftScientists say India should prepare for the monsoon’s new character, which is changing when rain falls, where it falls, and with what intensity. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/temp-spike-more-dry-days-data-points-to-monsoon-pattern-shift-101719259181680.html (25 June 2024)

AN EXCELLENT report in 2022 by ROXY KOLL of IITM (Pune) explained the South West Monsoon in India, showing foot print of Climate Change and its connections with wider climate and implications. Very clear headed and also suggesting what is required: We need to urgently disaster-proof every district and village of South Asia and make it climate resilient. We need to prepare our houses and farms for both droughts and floods. We need policies that help redesign our cities and prepare our rural areas for intensifying cyclones, floods and heatwaves. Unfortunately, IMD is unable to provide ACTIONABLE forecasts of rainfall, as clear as explained by IITM scientist.

Region wise rainfall IMD divides the country into four regions: North West India, East & North East India, Central India, South Peninsula. The bar charts from daily rainfall in these regions and also for Pan India rainfall as provided by IMD for June 2024 are given below.

State wise Rainfall As we can see from the IMD map above, out of 36 States and Union Territories (UTs), four (Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Ladakh) had large Excess (Actual rainfall more than 60% above normal), Four (Andaman and Nicobar, Meghalaya, Delhi and Puduchery)) had Excess (Actual rainfall 20-59% above normal), 11 had normal (Actual rainfall 19% below normal to above normal), 14 had deficit (Actual rainfall 20-59% below normal rainfall) and Three (Manipur, Chandigarh, Jharkhand) had Large Deficit (Actual rainfall over 60% below normal) in rainfall in June 2024. Goa had the highest rainfall of 924.7 mm, Chandigarh had the lowest rainfall at 11.9 mm. Strangely, IMD has also stopped giving names of the sub divisions in their maps, so even for those who know the sub divisions of IMD for which IMD reports rainfall, sometimes it can be confusing for some of the smaller states/ UTs.

Sub Division wise rainfall IMD divides India into 36 meteorological divisions (the logic of many of them is far from clear). As we can see from the map above, two sub divisions (Rayalseema, Tamil Nadu + Puducherry + Karaikal) had Large Excess rainfall, Four (Andaman & Nicobar, Sub Himalayan W Bengal + Sikkim, North Interior Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh + Yanam) had Excess rainfall, 14 had Normal rainfall, 14 had deficit rainfall and two (Gangetic W Bengal + Jharkhand) had large deficit. Coastal Karnataka had the highest rainfall at 741.7 mm and Punjab had the lowest at 29.4 mm rainfall in June 2024. Strangely, IMD has also stopped giving names of the sub divisions in their maps, so even for those who know the sub divisions of IMD for which IMD reports rainfall, sometimes it can be confusing for some of the smaller sub divisions.

River Basin wise Rainfall As we can see from the above map, IMD also reports river basin wise rainfall, but as we have been noting in the past, this reporting remains rather callous and inadequate, unfortunately. This is clear from the map, where one can see that IMD reports NO RAIN in whole of the month June 2024 in large number of river basins. THIS IS AN IMPOSSIBILITY, looking at the district wise rainfall in the maps below, among others. Clearest evidence of IMD’s devil cares attitude in reporting river basin wise rainfall. In addition, IMD reports NO DATA for Upper Indus and Jhelum river basins. Strangely, now IMD maps also do not mention name of the different river basins, so it becomes impossible to even understand which river basin had how much rain.

DISTRICT WISE STATE WISE RAINFALL Above we can see the IMD’s all India map with districts rainfall given with usual colour code for rainfall category of Large Excess, Excess, Normal, Deficit and Large Deficit. In the table below we have given number of such districts in each category for each state.

State/ UT	Rainfall Category	% departure	No of dists	No of districts in each Rainfall Category
State/ UT	Rainfall Category	% departure	No of dists	No data	Large Deficit	Deficit	Normal	Excess	Large Excess
A & N	E	+35	3	0	0	0	1	2	0
Arun. Pr	N	-6	16	1	0	7	5	2	1
Assam	N	+12	27	0	0	3	15	8	1
Meghalaya	E	+25	11	0	0	3	3	3	2
Nagaland	D	-29	11	0	1	4	5	0	1
Manipur	LD	-62	9	2	4	2	1	0	0
Mizoram	D	-38	8	0	1	5	2	0	0
Tripura	N	+4	8	0	0	2	3	3	0
Sikkim	LE	+66	6	0	0	0	1	2	3
W Bengal	N	-19	23	0	12	6	0	3	2
Odisha	D	-27	30	0	1	16	12	1	0
Jharkhand	LD	-61	24	0	18	6	0	0	0
Bihar	D	-52	38	0	20	14	3	0	1
Uttar Pr.	D	-34	75	1	26	24	9	9	6
Utt. Khand	D	-49	13	0	5	6	2	0	0
Haryana	D	-46	22	0	7	11	2	2	0
Chandigarh	LD	-92	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Delhi	E	+44	9	0	2	2	1	1	3
Punjab	D	-46	22	0	13	7	0	1	1
Himachal P	D	-49	12	0	4	7	1	0	0
Jammu & K	D	-38	20	1	3	13	2	1	0
Ladakh	E	+385	2	0	0	0	0	0	2
Rajasthan	N	-9	33	0	3	9	14	5	2
Madhya Pr	N	-10	52	0	3	11	25	10	3
Gujarat	D	-30	34	0	4	23	6	1	0
DDiu+DNH	D	-26	3	1	2	0	0	0	0
Goa	N	+1	2	0	0	0	2	0	0
Mahrshtra	N	+1	36	0	1	9	16	6	4
Chhattisgr	D	-28	33	0	2	18	11	2	0
Andhra Pr	LE	+64	26	0	0	0	5	9	12
Telangana	N	+17	33	0	0	1	18	10	4
TamilNadu	LE	+116	38	0	0	0	3	6	29
Puduchery	E	+35	4	0	0	0	3	0	1
Karnataka	N	-1	31	0	0	4	11	7	9
Kerala	D	-25	14	0	0	10	4	0	0
Lakshadwp	N	-27	1	0	0	0	1	0	0
INDIA	N	-11	732	6	133	223	187	94	89
INDIA %			100	0.82	18.17	30.46	25.55	12.84	12.16

ISLANDS: Andaman & Nicobar

Lakshadweep

NORTH INDIA: Jammu & Kashmir

Ladakh

Himachal Pradesh

सोलन में बादल फटा, ट्रक–कार मलबे में फंसेसोलन जिले के कुनिहार-नालागढ़ मार्ग पर स्थित गंबरपुल पर बादल फटने से एक ढाबा ढह गया। इससे कुछ वाहन भी इसकी चपेट में आए हैं। गनीमत रही कि जब बादल फटा तो ढाबे में कोई नहीं था, नहीं तो नुकसान ज्यादा हो सकता था। इसमें गंबरपुल पूरी तरह से मिट्टी से भर गया है। मौके पर एसडीएम अर्की भी पहुंच गए हैं। सड़क पर बड़ी-बड़ी चट्टानें आ गई हैं, जिन्हें हटाने का काम चल रहा है। https://hindi.news18.com/news/himachal-pradesh/solan-cloud-burst-trucks-cars-trapped-in-debris-fear-of-huge-damage-flood-on-road-in-gambharpul-highway-closed-check-details-8434888.html (24 June 2024)

Uttarakhand

Haridwar Vehicles swept away in Sukhi riverHeavy rain hit Haridwar on Saturday (June 29) afternoon, causing the Sukhi river to flood and wash away numerous parked cars. The rainwater also entered homes and flooded major roads in the town. Normally dry, the Sukhi riverbed is often used as a parking area. However, the sudden flood carried cars away into the river, which flows into the Ganga nearby. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/watch-heavy-rain-in-haridwar-swells-dry-sukhi-river-vehicles-swept-away-101719671345803.html (29 June 2024)

Punjab

Haryana

Gurugram Rainwater floods homes, roadsAt least 20 spots across the city witnessed severe waterlogging, forcing residents to remain indoors during the first half of the day. Heavy rainfall on Friday (June 28) morning caused significant traffic jams across Gurugram, which were managed to be cleared out within an hour, said officials. According to the weather department, the city received 30mm of rainfall, while Sohna recorded 80mm, leading to waterlogging on several stretches of National Highway (NH-48). https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/gurugram-news/rainwater-floods-homes-roads-in-gurugram-101719600529996.html (28 June 2024)

Delhi

From extreme heat to rivers on roads in just 24 hoursJust weeks after enduring one of its hottest periods in history, the Indian capital experienced a deluge, receiving a staggering 228.1 mm of rainfall within a span of 24 hours. This amount surpasses Delhi’s average rainfall for the entire month of June, transforming relief from the heat into widespread disruption.

As per the IMD the torrential downpour marked a 266 per cent departure from the norm for this time of year. Areas surrounding the Delhi airport alone received 148.5 mm of rain in just three hours on Friday (June 28), exceeding the total rainfall recorded in June of the previous year (101.7 mm). The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi’s main weather station, registered 228.1 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on Friday (June 28). This amount is more than three times the average June rainfall of 74.1 mm and marks the highest June rainfall in at least 16 years. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/how-indias-capital-went-from-extreme-heat-to-heavy-floods/articleshow/111336100.cms (28 June 2024)

Highest rain for June since 1936-Delhi recorded 228.1mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period between 8:30 am on Thursday (June 27) and Friday (June 28), at Safdarjung weather station the IMD said, stating 148.5mm out of this came in just a three-hour window between 2:30am and 5:30am. This is likely to be the wettest single-day spell of rain for June in the capital since 1936, when Delhi recorded 235.5mm, IMD data showed. “The all-time record for rainfall in a single day in June for Delhi is 235.5mm, which was recorded on June 28, 1936. We are checking 24-hour rainfall records for every year since then to see whether this is the second-highest spell after that,” said an IMD official on Friday (June 28). https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/delhi-receives-228-1mm-of-rainfall-in-24hrs-likely-to-be-highest-for-june-since-1936-101719556056994.html (28 June 2024) However, the IMD reported rainfall for 48 hours ending at 0830 am on June 28 or June 29 did not cross even 200 mm for any of the nine Delhi districts.

Rain breaks 88-year-old recordAccording to the Meteorological Department, Delhi received 228 mm of rainfall from 8:30 am on June 27 to 8:30 am on June 28, marking the highest 24-hour rainfall in June since 1936, when 235.5 mm of rain was recorded. https://www.ndtv.com/delhi-news/delhi-ncr-submerges-as-torrential-rain-breaks-88-year-old-record-5987793 (28 June 2024)

Heavy rainfall instances in Delhi in recent years.

Surgeries put off at AIIMS & LNJPAt least 50% of the surgeries at AIIMS were cancelled due to waterlogging in the basements of the trauma centre and Cardiothoracic Neurosciences Centre (CNC), where electric panels are located. Many parking areas also got flooded.

-AIIMS’ National Centre for Ageing (NCA), which was inaugurated in Dec 2023 by Union health minister, got flooded and rainwater seeped into the room where the CT scan machine was kept. The traffic movement in the tunnel connecting the trauma centre to the main AIIMS building was also disrupted, forcing patients to be transported by the main road. The tunnel was inaccessible till the evening.

-Some operation theatres even experienced minor water seepage. The power supply was disrupted in many areas, including wards and OPDs. The basement of the CNC building was flooded with knee-deep water, rendering three elevators inoperable. According to a notice issued by the acting head of the neurosurgery department, its OTs were non-functional due to the breakdown of the airconditioning system and water seepage from the walls. Several patients were sent to either Safdarjung or other govt hospitals, said officials.

-Several surgeries were also postponed at Lok Nayak Hospital due to the delayed arrival of the surgical and anaesthesia teams. According to the hospital, at least five surgeries, two of which were major, had to be cancelled. The area leading to the emergency department at RML Hospital also got flooded, resulting in difficulties for patients and their companions attempting to access the medical facility. According to doctors, the water receded in two hours. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/rain-disrupts-medical-services-at-aiims-and-lnjp-due-to-heavy-rainfall/articleshow/111351481.cms (29 June 2024)

Infamous flooded underpasses make a comeback-Capital’s Minto Bridge underpass, the Pragati Maidan and Mathura Road tunnels, Tilak Bridge railway underpass near ITO, Azad Market, Zakhira, Azadpur and Chatta Rail (behind Red Fort) underpasses in north Delhi, Mehram Nagar underpass leading to Terminal 3 of Delhi airport, and Ashok Nagar underpass in east Delhi were also inundated, with several vehicles being submerged in the flooded areas. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/infamous-flooded-underpasses-make-a-comeback-in-delhi-man-drowns-in-azadpur-101719598910444.html (29 June 2024)

City does not drain water efficiently-The long-term data at high frequency – for an hour or three hours – is not publicly available. IMD’s intensity categories for 24-hour rainfall do not suggest an increase in the intensity of rain in Delhi. While total annual rain decreased by 25% in the 2011-2020 decade compared to LPA, rain of “rather heavy” or higher intensity (rain of 35.5mm or more in 24 hours) decreased by 64%. On the other hand, moderate rain (7.6-35.5mm in 24 hours) decreased by 7%. It is only rain of even lower intensity (all classified as different types of light rain) that increased by 6% https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/yamunas-water-level-suggests-delhi-does-not-drain-water-efficiently-101719598969953.html (29 June 2024)

Death toll rises to 11-The heavy overnight rains unleashed fury over the residents of the national capital as at least 11 lives in total were lost in separate incidents, including the death of four kids aged between eight to ten years. https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Jun/29/delhi-rains-death-toll-rises-to-11-bodies-of-4-kids-recovered-from-flooded-areas (30 June 2024)

Environment min blames plastic waste-Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav attributed the waterlogging in Delhi following torrential rains on Friday (June 28) morning to drains being clogged with plastic waste and criticised the Delhi government for its inaction despite multiple reminders. https://www.business-standard.com/politics/delhi-rain-chaos-environment-min-blames-plastic-waste-slams-state-govt-124062800474_1.html (28 June 2024) However, key question is, what has the Union MoEF done about restricting the production of such plastics in the country.

Rains sink lawyer chambers in NCR-After hours spent in draining the water out – which required both the assistance of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) assistance and of private pumps that were frantically purchased – they were shocked to walk into an entirely ruined office. All the furniture and reference books were floating across the lobby, bookshelves rain-sacked, computer screens and laptops broken, and files completely destroyed. The extent of the damage was such that false ceilings and lights embedded on them had come down in their entirety. Everything was destroyed, with nothing capable of being salvaged. https://www.barandbench.com/columns/delhi-rains-sink-lawyer-chambers-in-ncr (29 June 2024)

Waterlogging, traffic snarls add to chaosThe heavy rainfall spell in Delhi on June 28 causing water logging and urban flooding in several areas have again exposed the poor maintenance of existing drainage system which is further disrepected even damaged by growing infrastructure projects. Unabated tree felling, absence of RWH facilities and concretization of surface area has only worsened the scenario. Sadely five people lost their lives due to rain related incidents and flooding. https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/heavy-rains-pound-delhi-5-dead-waterlogging-traffic-snarls-add-to-chaos-124062801357_1.html (29 June 2024)

Chandigarh

EAST INDIA

Uttar Pradesh

Bihar

W Bengal

Jharkhand

Odisha

Chhattisgarh

NORTH EAST INDIA

Sikkim

Assam

Arunachal Pradesh

Cloudburst fear sparks panic in ItanagarIn a matter of minutes, the serene sky at Itanagar turned spooky and rained hard, triggering a series of landslides, a deluge of the streets, and a “cloudburst” panic among the residents. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), however, termed it an “extremely heavy fall”, and not a cloudburst, which resulted in 3.75 cm of rainfall in a little more than two hours from 10.30 am to 11.45 am.

“Since the entire rainfall of 3.75 cm took place within a short interval at Itanagar and a similar amount of water flowing from higher hills to the state capital, when summed together, caused a flood-like situation and more damage,” explained K N Mohan, the head of the regional meteorological centre of the IMD. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/itanagar/cloudburst-fear-sparks-panic-in-itanagar-no-of-assams-flood-hit-down-to-2-lakh/articleshow/111237813.cms (24 June 2024)

Meghalaya

Manipur

Mizoram

Nagaland

Tripura

SOUTH INDIA

Andhra Pradesh

Telangana

Karnataka

Bengaluru saw the driest June this year in six years with rainfall just close to 80 mm. The rainfall was 91.5 mm, 83.3 mm, 115.8 mm, 92.1 mm, 207.7 mm in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Tamil Nadu