Several north-eastern States including Assam, Sikkim, Meghalya and eastern States of Bihar and West Bengal have witnessed incessant rainfalls since Friday, causing floods. From June 1 to 29, Sikkim and sub-Himalayan West Bengal have received 123 percent and 22 percent rainfall, Bihar received 91% of excess rains, and Assam and Meghalaya received an excess rain of 29 percent and 36 percent respectively. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), due to monsoon trough continues to run along the Himalayan foothills with the convergence of strong southerly and south-westerly winds from the Bay of Bengal over the north-east and eastern India.
Due to this weather pattern, there is a possibility of extremely heavy rainfall measuring over 20 centimeters in the next 24 hours in north-east and eastern parts of the country. Over 10 lakh people have been evacuated in Assam due to flood.
According to the IMD, the current weather situation is likely to cause widespread and very heavy rain in many parts of north-east India, Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Sikkim and Sub Himalayan West Bengal in the next four-five days. There may be extremely heavy rain, in the next 24 hours.
Widespread rainfall is also expected over Madhya Pradesh for the next five days. With the prevalence of these weather conditions, most places have been placed on a Yellow watch by the IMD.
According to the IMD, flood situation in Assam has worsen due to heavy rainfall and around 10 lakh people have been evacuated so far. IMD says there are two reasons for the intense monsoon activity. First, the northward shift of monsoon trough that runs from north Punjab to northwest Bay of Bengal. Monsoon rains are generally clustered around such troughs. Second, the coming together of strong winds from the south and southwest directions carrying moisture from the Bay of Bengal. The floods impacted five districts in upper Assam the most — Dhemaji, Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar and Dibrugarh. In Sikkim, landslides swept away portions of Mangan-Chungthang road near Mangan Police Station and Lanthey Khola in North Sikkim district following heavy rainfall.
Bihar is also in a flood-like situation. The IMD forecast heavy rain in Bihar for the next 36 hours as monsoon gets active in the State. The weather department has issued a high alert for heavy rain in the entire state especially places located at north-central and north-east Bihar. Red alert has been issued in some districts like West-East Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Araria, Kishanganj and some other districts. Lighting stroked warning is also issued in these places. As per reports, Bihar has received 92 percent more rainfall this year compared to the other years.
Cherrapunji, which is known to receive a lot of rainfall around this time of the year, has recorded up to 55 cm in a day.
Monsoon this time covered the entire country on June 26 – a good 12 days in advance. Usually, monsoon covers the country by July 8. But from last Friday an intense monsoon phase in the north-east and eastern India started.
