The met department has categorised the ongoing drought as severe with the south-west monsoon falling 30% below the long period average.

IMD DG R R Kelkar told a meeting of state ministers, called to review the power situation available to the farm sector in view of monsoon failure, that this kind of thing has only occurred thrice in the last century, 1917, 1972 and 1987.

The rainfall deficiency was 26% in 1987.

The monsoon situation, in fact, has worsened since the week ending July 24, bringing the average deficiency down from -24 % deviation to -30% deviation up to end July.

NEW DELHI: TIMES NEWS NETWORK
[ TUESDAY, AUGUST 06, 2002 4:18:30 AM ]