Karnataka Records 35% Rainfall Deficit as Weak Monsoon Raises Drought Fears
KSNDMC data shows 24 districts received deficient rainfall, with Vijayanagara recording the state's highest shortfall.
Karnataka is witnessing a weak southwest monsoon this year, with the state recording a 35 per cent rainfall deficit between June 1 and July 22, according to data released by the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC).
The state received 253 mm of rainfall during the period against the normal 392 mm, placing Karnataka in the 'deficit' category. Of the state's 31 districts, only six recorded normal rainfall, while 24 were classified as deficient and one — Vijayanagara — fell under the 'large deficit' category.
The rainfall shortfall has persisted through both monsoon months. Between July 1 and 22, Karnataka received 137 mm of rainfall against the normal 192 mm, a deficit of 29 per cent. June was drier, recording 116 mm against the normal 199 mm, a 42 per cent deficit.
Among the state's four regions, Malnad recorded the highest cumulative deficit at 43 per cent, followed by South Interior Karnataka (34 per cent), Coastal Karnataka (33 per cent) and North Interior Karnataka (24 per cent).
Vijayanagara was the worst-affected district, recording a 62 per cent rainfall deficit. Other districts with significant shortfalls included Mysuru (57 per cent), Haveri (50 per cent), Davanagere (48 per cent), Kodagu (46 per cent), Shivamogga (44 per cent), Chikkamagaluru (43 per cent) and Kalaburagi (42 per cent).
Only Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Belagavi, Bengaluru Rural, Tumakuru and Raichur recorded normal rainfall during the southwest monsoon period. The remaining 24 districts reported deficient rainfall.
Among the coastal districts, Udupi recorded a 39 per cent rainfall deficit, followed by Dakshina Kannada (38 per cent) and Uttara Kannada (28 per cent). In the Malnad region, Kodagu, Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru also witnessed sharp rainfall deficits.
At the taluk level, KSNDMC data showed that 144 taluks were in the deficit category, 16 recorded a large deficit, 64 received normal rainfall and 16 reported excess rainfall.
