Monsoon near normal

New Delhi, Sep 26 (UNI) The country received near normal monsoon this season, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced today.

The actual rainfall was 864.2 mm as on September 25, a mere 1 per cent less than the long period average (LPA), the IMD said in a statement.

From June 1 to September 25, as many as 32 of the 36 sub-divisions received normal downpour, while the rainfall was deficient in only two sub-divisions and excess in two others.

Northwest India received 651.2 mm rainfall (8 per cent more than its LPA), Central India 955.9 mm (2 per cent less than its LPA), Northeast India 1,295.3 mm (7 per cent below its LPA) and South Peninsula 690.2 mm (normal).

In Northeast sub-division of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, the rainfall was 21 per cent below its LPA, while in the Central India sub-division of West Madhya Pradesh, it was 20 per cent less than its LPA.

During the first half of next week, IMD has predicted scattered to fairly widespread rainfall over West Bengal, Sikkim and Northeastern States.

Over the remaining parts of the country, decreased rainfall activity is predicted, with Southwest monsoon likely to withdraw from parts of Northwest India, the IMD said.

UNI YJ ATI BD1955