PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, June 17: The much-awaited southwest monsoon arrived in Jharkhand today, bringing a wave of relief to farmers and residents across the state after a brief delay of two days.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that monsoon currents have covered several districts, including Ranchi, East Singhbhum, Dhanbad, and Bokaro, marking the official onset of the rainy season.
The normal arrival date of the monsoon in Jharkhand is June 15. Some five years ago, the normal arrival date of the southwest monsoon was revised from June 10 to June 15.
According to IMD officials at the Regional Met Centre in Alipore, Kolkata, the monsoon is expected to advance rapidly across the remaining parts of the state over the next 48 hours.
Light to moderate rainfall was recorded in parts of southern and central Jharkhand early this morning, with heavier showers predicted in the coming days.
Agricultural communities, who rely heavily on timely monsoon rains for sowing paddy and other kharif crops, welcomed the showers with optimism. “We were worried about the delay, but this rain has lifted our hopes,” said Yadunath Gorai, a farmer from Patamda in East Singhbhum.
Meteorologists have forecast a normal monsoon for Jharkhand this year, which could help alleviate the water deficit faced by several districts during the pre-monsoon season.
What to Expect
* Intermittent rainfall across the state in the coming week
* Drop in temperature and improved air quality
* Farmers advised to begin land preparation for sowing