Representative image showing rains in Kerala.
Credit: PTI Photo
With a drastic fall of 45 per cent in the south-west, monsoon in Kerala so far, the state is under the scare of a drought and power crisis.
While the normal rain expected in Kerala from June 1 till date was 1588.4 mm, the state so far received only 877.6 mm. The average water level of dams in the state is around 35 per cent only.
Kerala power minister K Krishnan Kutty said on Thursday that power restriction might be imposed in the state if the situation continues. A review meeting on August 21 would discuss the measures to be taken.
Farmers are also badly hit by the deficiency in rains. Already vegetable farmers are lamenting over damage to crops owing to the hot climate. Paddy farmers are struggling to retain the dampness in the paddy fields.
Ever since its onset on June 8, the southwest monsoon was comparatively weak in the state. Though there were alerts about an El Nino climate pattern during the monsoon, IMD had forecast normal rains during the season.
Director of Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research in Kochi Abhilash S said that the deficiency in the rains was due to various factors including El Nino. The sea surface temperature over the Indian Ocean was also not favourable for Kerala, he said.
Even as weather agencies forecast chances for rains in September, the impact of El Nino could not be ruled out.