Karnataka had near-normal monsoon rains

Bengaluru : Karnataka has received near-normal southwest monsoon rains from June till September, an official said on Monday.

"The state has received almost normal rainfall overall, while the coastal and south interior districts received rain in excess, the northern districts have been facing rain deficit," India Meteorological Department (IMD) Bengaluru director-incharge C.S. Patil told IANS here.

The monsoon rains could continue for another 15 days across the state, according to IMD.

The southern state, which was reeling under drought conditions due to deficit rains over the past few years, has received an average of 78cm of monsoon since the onset of southwest monsoon on June 4.

The average rainfall across the state is only about 6 per cent below the normal of 83cm.

Bengaluru, which received intermittent rains from June to September, faces about 20 per cent deficit of rains. The city received a total of 38.6cm of rains so far against the normal of 47.5cm.

Coastal and south interior districts of the state have received rains in excess, which have filled up the reservoirs in the Cauvery basin.

The coffee-growing district of Kodagu in the south interior region, which was hit by heavy floods and landslides due to unabated rains from August 14-22, received a whopping 60 per cent excess in rainfall during the four months.

It had received a total of 346cm of rain as against the normal of 218cm from June to September.

Coastal district of Udupi received 404cm of rain (7 per cent more than normal) and Dakshina Kannada 353cm (5 per cent excess), while south interior district of Mysuru also received a 40 per cent excess of rain, a total of 47cm rain during the period.

Northern Karnataka districts, however, face an overall 30 per cent deficit in rainfall so far.

Overall, over 20 of the state's 30 districts continue to face a deficit in rainfall.