Jammu, Aug 10: Jammu and Kashmir is experiencing around 22 percent deficiency in rainfall in the current monsoon season, the first indication of a drought like situation in the state.
 While the monsoon scenario is expected to look up in August but it is unlikely to recover from the shortfall this season, sources said.
 A cumulative monsoon report compiled by weather experts in Jammu and Kashmir reveals that the state has recorded 237.9 mm of rainfall as compared to normal rainfall of 305.5 mm from July 1, 2012 to August 8, 2012. The trend shows a departure of 22 percent from the normal across the state, the report says.
 The report shows that Shopian district of Kashmir has recorded 100 percent deficient rainfall this year followed by 98 percent in Kargil. “Kargil district has recorded just 4 mm of rainfall against normal rainfall of 21 mm”, the report says.
 It says that Jammu has shown a departure of 19 percent so far, while Srinagar records 39 percent of departure this season.
 The mountainous Doda district shows 52 percent, Poonch, 45 percent, Rajouri 34 percent, Ganderbal 57 percent and Pulwama recorded 44 percent deficient rainfall so far.
 “We expect monsoon to remain around 22-25 % deficient this year,” sources in the India Meteorological Department told Greater Kashmir.
 “In August, we are hoping for a better rainfall scenario. But there will be some problem in the terminal part of the monsoon,” they said.
 The trend is being seen similar across India, which has so far received 20% less rains than normal since the delayed onset of the monsoon in June. Till last week, the country received 378.8 mm rainfall against the normal of 471.4 mm.
 A country-wide drought is declared when the monsoon rains are less than 90% of the LPA and at least 20% area of the country experiences deficient showers of 25% or more.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 10 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 11 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST