Rainfall less in 10 subdivisions, monsoon may be late in some parts: IMD

New Delhi, June 19 (IANS) Still hopeful that the monsoon would reach all regions of India in time, the IMD on Monday said 10 out of 36 sub-divisions across the country have received deficient rainfall, varying between 20 and 59 per cent.

However, the country as a whole has received overall five percent surplus rainfall till date, said officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Meanwhile, Kerala is the only region where monsoon had reached days back yet there is a deficiency in the rainfall by about 27 percent, which is considered marginal.

According to IMD, while certain regions, including parts of Central, North and Eastern regions of India, are yet to herald the monsoon by June 15, "it is still too early to declare monsoon delay".

It also said that while it believes that monsoon would reach certain parts of east and north India in time, they still can't comment for central India and eastern Madhya Pradesh.

"There is always a standard deviation of seven days. Now the monsoon have not reached certain parts, but we are expecting them to reach by June 22. We can't comment on central India," IMD scientist M. Mahapatra told IANS.

The regions worst affected include the agriculture belt including eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, eastern Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Sikkim, Kerala and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

"Actual rainfall overall so far was 88.7 per cent while the normal is 84.6 per cent... this makes the departure to be five per cent extra," said Mahapatra, adding, "we have predicted that the season would be good for the farmers".

About Delhi, officials said that while the expected date is June 29, it would still be considered timely monsoon if it reached the national capital by July 4.

According to the private weather forecaster Skymet, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, parts of Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh would see monsoon within next two-three days.

"Monsoon is expected to reach Uttar Pradesh from the Terai region, foothills of the state, in next two-three days. However, in south-eastern parts of the state, like Banda district, monsoon would reach by June 27 or 28," said Skymet director Mahesh Palawa.

Recording highest temperature in country on Monday, Banda district is among the worst affected regions of Uttar Pradesh, where deaths due to heat wave were reported earlier this month.