17 Odisha districts grappling with severe rainfall deficit

Bhubaneswar: While pictures of swelling rivers and inundated cities of the State are still fresh in our memories, it might be hard to digest the fact that there are some places in Odisha which are grappling with acute rainfall deficit.

Surprisingly, as many as 17 blocks in Angul, Sundergarh, Bolangir and Nuapada districts have experienced severe rainfall deficit ranging between minus 39 per cent to minus 59 per cent.

Muribahal block in Bolangir district has reportedly experienced the lowest rainfall compared to other parts of the state.

According to the SRC, 41 blocks out of the 314 blocks in Odisha have received deficit rainfall between 19 per cent and 39 per cent last month while the total rainfall registered across the state stood at a surplus 28.9 per cent in July.

As per official sources, during July 2018, the State received average rainfall of 438.0 mm against the long term average (LTA) of 339.9 mm.