PUNE: Maharashtra has had the best monsoon so far in the country, with the state leading in "bonus" rainfall over and above its normal quota from June 1 to July 17.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) data has revealed that only four states -
Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Maharashtra - have received excess rainfall till now during this monsoon, with Maharashtra leaving behind all other states in terms of highest
surplus rain percentage.
Though Punjab has witnessed excess rainfall this season, states in the northwest like Delhi, Haryana and UP and most northeastern states have received less than normal rainfall. Till July 16, Delhi had a rainfall deficiency of 27%, which reduced to 19% in a day's time till July 17.
Maharashtra's rain bonus is a significant 41% while it is 30% in Telangana, 25% in Tamil Nadu and 21% in Punjab. A region is said to have received excess rainfall when it is in surplus of 20%-59% over the normal quota.
Manipur in northeast India, which is one of the "rainiest" regions in India, is facing the highest monsoon deficit at 69%, followed by UP, Bihar, Meghalaya and Jharkhand.
Among the seven Union territories in the country, Daman and Diu followed by Dadar and Nagar Haveli have the highest rain surplus percentage at 95% and 59% respectively. This will make Maharashtra the third best in terms of monsoon performance so far, if the Union territories are taken into account.