SHILLONG/NONGPOH, July 20: Although the rain has been pouring mercilessly for the past few days, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) here says that monsoon this year is expected to be normal or below normal across the state.
A senior official at IMD Shillong said that Meghalaya has received 3,983mm of rainfall, which is 39 per cent more than the rainfall in 2020 between June and September, which was normal.
According to the official, normal rainfall for the whole monsoon in Meghalaya during the past 10 years is 2,856mm but cumulative monsoon rainfall in 2021 over state as on July 19 is 21 per cent less than normal.
In 2012, the state received 4,212 mm rainfall which is highest in recent years. The lowest rainfall in past 10 years received was in 2013 which was 1,282 mm.
The total rainfall till July 18 this year is 1,100.7mm although around two-and-half months are left for this year’s monsoon season to end.
“Hence, rainfall for the current monsoon season is in normal range though it is on the lower side,” the official added. Monsoon in Meghalaya generally arrives on June 6.
Landslide damages water supply pipelines
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall has induced landslide at Umsamlem in Ri Bhoi, which has resulted in two major pipelines supplying water to Nongpoh area being damaged.
Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner RM Kurbah has informed that water supply in Nongpoh will remain disrupted until the restoration work on two pipelines is completed.
According to the Executive Engineer of Public Health Engineering (PHE), Nongpoh Division, the restoration work may take a week or more.
